Health Status Of Children Research Articles

Maternal Anxiety with Infant Pain During Immunization

Maternal and child health is still the target of health development programs in Indonesia. Immunization is important to prevent children from getting sick or even dying from certain diseases. The procedure for giving immunizations, most of which are by injection, is one of the reasons parents delay or even don't bring their children to be immunized because they can't bear to see their children cry. This study aimed to see the relationship between maternal anxiety and the pain felt by infant during immunization. This research method was a descriptive study with cross-sectional design and consecutive sampling technique. The study was conducted at the Pakuan Baru Health Center Jambi on 115 respondents consisting of mothers and infant (0-12 months) who received injection-type immunization. Maternal anxiety was measured using the DASS-21 questionnaire and the infant's pain was observed with the FLACC behavioral tool. The results of Spearman's rho analysis obtained a p-value of 0,0001 (p-value<0,05), which means that there is a significant relationship between maternal anxiety and the pain felt by infant during immunization with a strong correlation (r=0,625). We hope that the results of this study become a concern for health workers, to reduce maternal anxiety to decreases infant's pain and in the end can increase immunization coverage which has an impact on improving children's health status.

Evaluation of Nutritional Status using Head Circumference among Bhil, Dhodia and Kinnaura tribal Preschool Children, India

Background: Undernutrition is a major problem in developing countries, especially among tribal pre-school children. Many studies have been undertaken on preschool tribal children in different parts of India, but by considering different ecological zones, no previous studies have been taken into account for determining nutritional status using head circumference. Head circumference for age Z-score (HCAZ) is also a useful index for determining the nutritional status of pre-school children. Objectives: The aim of the study is to assess the nutritional status based on head circumference of preschool children of the Bhil, Dhodia and Kinnaura tribes. Methods: The present study was undertaken among 509 boys and 476 girls. Among which, 168 boys and 185 girls belonged to the Bhil tribe from Barmer district, 164 boys and 142 girls belonged to the Dhodia tribe from Valsad district, and 177 boys and 149 girls belonged to the Kinnaura tribe from Kinnaur district. WHO Child Growth Standards (2007) were utilized to determine Z-scores for head circumference for age (HCAZ). The standard formula was used to compute HCAZ: Z-score= (X- Median value of WHO 2007)/ standard deviation, WHO (2007). Moderately undernourished: <-2SD and severely undernourished: <-3SD were considered following the WHO standard (2007). Results: From this study, it was found that among Bhil preschool children, 28.3% of boys and girls are undernourished, 33.6% of boys and 31.3% of girls are suffering from malnutrition among Dhodia boys, and 13.5% of boys and 17.2% of girls are undernourished among Kinnaura tribe. Conclusion: Regular intervention programmes need to be done by the authority to spread awareness among the people of these tribal communities so that the health condition of preschool children improves.

Health in children during schooling

Introduction. The basis of preventive activities in pediatrics is medical examination, based on active dynamic monitoring of sick and healthy children. An important part of medical examination is preventive examinations, which are carried out with the aim of timely detection of deviations in the health status in children and the management of necessary treatment, preventive and health measures. Purpose of the study: based on the results of a dynamic 10-year observation, present the data on the health status of a single cohort of schoolchildren to update the main preventive areas for children’s practice over schooling process. Materials and methods. The study was conducted on the basis of a study of the health status of four hundred thirty seven schoolchildren at different stages of schooling (before entering school, at the end of first grade, during the transition to subject education and at the end of school education), according to a single protocol, on one sample and a single methodology with sequential multiple registration of selected indices of the health status in schoolchildren and annual analysis over a period of 10 years. Results. An analysis of the distribution of those examined cases by membership in health groups clearly demonstrated a decrease in the number of children in health groups I and II and an increase in schoolchildren in health groups III and IV. A dynamic assessment of diagnosed pathological conditions in their compliance with a certain ICD-10 class over a 10-year observation period revealed an increase in the proportion of schoolchildren suffering from diseases of the musculoskeletal system, the organ of vision, cardio- and endocrinopathies. Research limitations.The study has regional (Krasnoyarsk Territory) limitations and concerns 6 to 17 year children. Conclusion. The data obtained established the possibilities of early diagnosis in risk groups, and preventive measures aimed at developing healthy lifestyle skills in schoolchildren and their parents within the framework of priority national projects in Russia.

Health conditions of migrant children and adolescents from Latin America and Caribe: A narrative review.

The presence of children and adolescents in migratory flows is growing in Latin America and the Caribbean. Little is known about migration's effects on these groups' health. This article aims to investigate the evidence available on the access and use of healthcare services by migrant children and adolescents in Latin America and the Caribbean. We seek to explore the role of social determinants of health at different levels in the health conditions of these groups. Also, to identify potential recommendations for healthcare systems and public policy to address them. For this purpose, a narrative review of 52 publications was carried out based on a search of scientific literature in the Web of Science and Google Scholar databases. Five relevant topics were identified: use of emergency care associated with lack of healthcare access, preventive services, and other social determinants of health; exposure to preventable infectious diseases; mental health; sexual and reproductive health; and vaccinations and dental health. We conclude that the evidence shows the need to address the inequities and disadvantages faced by migrant children from a perspective of social determinants of health and policies that consider health as a human right regardless of the migratory status of children and adolescents, as well as that of their parents or primary caregivers.

Assessment of Chronic Malnutrition and Its Correlation With Oral Health Status in Children Aged Three to Six Years in Jabalpur District, India: An Epidemiological Study.

This study aims to examine the correlation of chronic malnutrition with the oral health status of children aged three to six years. A total of 400 children were selected and divided into four groups based on z-scores. For evaluation of oral health status, teeth were examined for dental caries using the decayed, missing, and filled permanent teeth (DMFT) scores. Salivary samples were collected to measure salivary flow rate (SFR), pH, and salivary buffering capacity (SBC). Teeth were also visualized to detect the presence or absence of enamel hypoplasia. The data obtained was statistically analyzed (p<0.05). A total of 400 children participated and were also categorized into mild, moderate, and severe obesity according to the z-scores. The mean DMFT scores among adequately nourished children were 2.4086; with severely malnourished and severely obese children, the mean values were found to be 1.0652 and 1.4286, respectively. The mean SFR among children with adequate nutrition was 1.0366, and the mean flow rate among children with severe malnutrition and obesity was 0.5348 and 0.4036, respectively. The mean salivary pH among children with adequate nutrition was 7.1295, and the mean values for participants with severe malnutrition and severe obesity were found to be 6.4772 and 7.6521, respectively. The mean SBC among children with adequate nutrition was found to be 4.4861; for severely malnourished children and those with severe obesity, the values were 3.2472 and 2.8332, respectively. There was an absence of enamel hypoplasia in children with adequate nutrition, whereas a total of five participants with severe malnutrition and three children with severe obesity were found to have hypoplastic lesions, respectively. Malnutrition exerts a negative impact on the overall oral health of children. It is critical to diagnose the effects of malnutrition on children's oral environments in order to provide appropriate treatment and enhance their quality of life.

Implementation of a telemedical urgency assessment procedure in the pediatric emergency room: evaluation results.

In rural areas in Germany, the number of emergency departments with pediatric expertise decreases. Telemedicine solutions are used sporadically, but they lack certain parameters for assessing a child's health status, such as touch and smell. We tested and evaluated the implementation of a telemedical, cross-hospital urgency assessment in pediatric emergency rooms. The telemedical urgency assessments were carried out via video conferences and were compared to the usual on-site procedure. Primary results of the concordance analysis have been published elsewhere. This work describes the results of the evaluation of the implementation. The telemedical urgency assessment was carried out in 5 pediatric emergency departments during the years 2015-2019. Various methods were used to evaluate the implementation. The following reports are based on (a) a parent questionnaire with two statements to be evaluated (entire project duration), (b) a survey of the physicians using telemedicine after each case (entire project duration) and (c) detailed process documentation (July 2017 until end of the project). A total of 266 patients under 18 years old, recruited from four hospitals, were included in the study. (a) 210 parents completed the questionnaire. 78% of the parents felt adequately cared for and 70% could imagine telemedicine becoming established as a future supplementary care procedure. (b) The physicians' questionnaires for the telemedicine site were completed in 232 cases (87%). The average satisfaction rating was 1.8 on a 6-point-likert-scale (95% confidence interval: 1.64; 1.95). (c) The most frequent implementation problem concerned the technical implementation of the video conference. The evaluation of the accompanying documentation revealed in particular implementation barriers in the technical area (e. g. limited video and/or audio quality) and in the provision of human resources. Despite implementation barriers, the project showed that telemedical urgency assessment in acute pediatric care is a promising option for supporting care. Most of the participating clinicians needed a high level of support, which in some cases indicated a rather low level of digital competence. Increasing acceptance of telemedicine functionalities requires changes in society as a whole with improved framework conditions.

The impact of parental migration patterns, timing, and duration on the health of rural Chinese children.

Parent-child separation raises concerns for the well-being of 69 million left-behind children (LBC) in China. However, the effects of parental migration status, timing of migration, and migration duration on the health of children remain unclear. This study aims to explore the association between different parent-child separation experience and a range of health outcomes in rural Chinese children. A sample of 2,355 students, grades 5 to 8, from two provinces in China were recruited. Standardized self-report instruments collected data on demographics, separation status, and children's health conditions. Full data were available for 274 children with both parents currently migrating (BLBC), 638 children with one parent currently migrating (SLBC), 658 children with parents previously migrated (PLBC) and 785 children with non-migrating parents (NLBC). Regression model results showed that, compared to the NLBC group, BLBC and PLBC exhibited lower self-rated health (p < 0.05), higher depression (p < 0.05), and higher rates of non-suicidal self-injury behaviors (p < 0.05) and suicidal ideation (p < 0.05). Children who experienced parental separation before the age of three were at a higher risk for four health indicators. Additionally, children left behind by parents for more than 7 years had significantly worse health outcomes. Children who have experienced both current and previous parental migration, as well as earlier parental migration age and longer migration duration, are at a disadvantage in terms of health. These findings highlight the need for targeted interventions focusing on the most vulnerable children.

Cumulative incidence of chronic health conditions recorded in hospital inpatient admissions from birth to age 16 in England.

Monitoring the incidence of chronic health conditions (CHCs) in childhood in England, using administrative data to derive numerators and denominators, is challenged by unmeasured migration. We used open and closed birth cohort designs to estimate the cumulative incidence of CHCs to age 16 years. In closed cohorts, we identified all births in Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) from 2002/3 to 2011/12, followed to 2018/19 (maximum age 8 to 16 years), censoring on death, first non-England residence record or 16th birthday. Children must have linked to later HES records and/or the National Pupil Database, which provides information on all state school enrolments, to address unmeasured emigration. The cumulative incidence of CHCs was estimated to age 16 using diagnostic codes in HES inpatient records. We also explored temporal variation. Sensitivity analyses varied eligibility criteria. In open cohorts, we used HES data on all children from 2002/3 to 2018/19 and national statistics population denominators. In open and closed approaches, the cumulative incidence of ever having a CHC recorded before age 16 among children born in 2003/4 was 25% (21% to 32% in closed cohort sensitivity analyses). There was little temporal variation. At least 28% of children with any CHC had more than one body system affected by age 16. Multimorbidity rates rose with later cohorts. Approximately one-quarter of children are affected by CHCs, but estimates vary depending on how the denominator is defined. More accurate estimation of the incidence of CHCs requires a dynamic population estimate.

The effects of Bolsa Família on human development: systematic review approach

Usually conditional cash transfer programmes (CCTs) are interpreted as passive policies dealing with income maintenance and needs fulfilment. However, recently some of the literature has suggested a more active role for them. The aim of this article is to investigate the inclusive role of human rights-based CCTs using the Bolsa Família (BF) policy as a case study. Specifically, I assess the effect of this programme on human development using a systematic review of results from natural, quasi-experimental, counterfactual and longitudinal analyses. The main findings suggest some positive effect of the BF on human development. However, the BF programme should be more integrated with the education and the health system to ameliorate the advancement of human rights. For example, when social workers visit recipient families they should enrol children in the education system. Also, healthcare teams should visit recipient families more frequently and provide healthcare advice as well as healthcare support to ameliorate the nutritional and health status of children.

Neurodevelopmental and Mental Health Conditions in Children With Medical Complexity.

Children with medical complexity (CMC) may be at a high risk of neurodevelopmental and mental health conditions given disease comorbidities and lived experiences. Little is known about the prevalence of these conditions at a population level. In this study, we estimated the prevalence of neurodevelopmental and mental health diagnoses in CMC relative to children without medical complexity and measured associations between these diagnoses in CMC and subsequent health care utilization and in-hospital mortality. We applied the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Disorders Classification System to identify neurodevelopmental and mental health diagnoses using all-payer claims data from three states (2012-2017). Poisson regression was used to compare outcomes in CMC with neurodevelopmental and mental health diagnoses to CMC without these diagnoses, adjusting for sociodemographic and clinical characteristics. Among 85 581 CMC, 39 065 (45.6%) had ≥1 neurodevelopmental diagnoses, and 31 703 (37.0%) had ≥1 mental health diagnoses, reflecting adjusted relative risks of 3.46 (3.42-3.50) for neurodevelopmental diagnoses and 2.22 (2.19-2.24) for mental health diagnoses compared with children without medical complexity. CMC with both neurodevelopmental and mental health diagnoses had 3.00 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.98-3.01) times the number of ambulatory visits, 69% more emergency department visits (rate ratio = 1.69, 95% CI: 1.66-1.72), 58% greater risk of hospitalization (rate ratio = 1.58, 95% CI: 1.50-1.67), and 2.32 times (95% CI: 2.28-2.36) the number of hospital days than CMC without these diagnoses. Neurodevelopmental and mental health diagnoses are prevalent among CMC and associated with increased health care utilization across the continuum of care. These findings illustrate the importance of recognizing and treating neurodevelopmental and mental health conditions in this population.

Effectiveness of a message service on child oral health practice via a social media application: A randomized controlled trial.

Early establishment of healthy oral health behaviours is important to reduce early childhood caries risk. Two-way social media applications can economically assist caregivers. To evaluate the effectiveness of a LINE™ messaging service (MS) on promoting good oral health behaviors in Thai children. One hundred and ninety caregiver-child dyads (children aged 6-36 months) who attended a university dental hospital and two other hospitals were randomly assigned to receive age-appropriate dental health education via MS or through traditional on-site visits. Infographic posters, video clips, and supportive messages were delivered weekly to the MS group. Parental oral health knowledge and children's oral health status and practice were assessed at baseline and 6-month follow-up. The MS group showed significantly better scores in feeding habits (p = .034) and toothbrushing practice (p = .007). Parental knowledge increased in both groups; however, knowledge increased significantly in the control group (p = .001). Both groups exhibited improvements in the debris score but not in caries progression. The caregivers rated both methods as high to the highest satisfaction. The MS yielded comparable outcomes to traditional dental visits in promoting oral health behaviours.

The Contribution of Forgotten Foods for Supporting Food Security in Gunungkidul, Yogyakarta – Indonesia

Background: Gunungkidul, one of the districts in the special region of Yogyakarta – Indonesia, was reported to have a significant number of food-insecure villages. However, it conserved various forgotten protein-source food as a regional heritage delicacy. This study aims to evaluate the contribution of forgotten foods (edible insects, aquatic animals, indigenous plants) to support food security among poor households in Gunungkidul district, Indonesia. Methods: Food security status was evaluated according to the method by Maxwell. The characteristics of socio-economic households, food consumption behaviour, nutritional status of children under five, and health status of mothers and children among the targets were also assessed through an interview using a structured coded questionnaire. The food consumption pattern was analyzed by using food recall 2 x 24 hours and a semi food frequency questionnaire. This study involved 240 poor households below the poverty line, mainly farmers (60%). Results: This study revealed that 48% of households were food-insecure, 39% were food-vulnerable, 8% were less food-secure, and 5% were food-secure. Aquatic animals and edible insects contributed as many as 22 making up for 1% of daily protein needs, respectively. A preference shifting on those forgotten foods seems to become one barrier to this contribution. Conclusion: The forgotten foods might be an alternative to a future challenge in supporting human well-being. In this case, aquatic animals and edible insects are considered as future protein sources.

Manajemen Cuci Tangan Efektif Untuk Mencegah Penyakit Menular Pada Anak Usia Sekolah

Washing hands is one effort to break the chain of disease transmission to school-age children. So that school children can manage hand washing effectively. This will make it a routine habit taught as early as possible. There are many methods and ways of teaching by playing and exploring the environment around the school. Based on observations made, school children rarely wash their hands before eating food bought in the school canteen. This case study aims to implement effective hand-washing management to prevent infectious diseases in school-aged children. The service was carried out for school-age children at SD N 1 Layan, Tangse District, Pidie Regency with 72 students using a workshop method that included 6 effective hand-washing management steps. It is hoped that there will be an increase in the awareness of school children to be able to wash their hands to prevent infectious diseases and to improve the health status of Indonesian children

School health and nutrition services for children and adolescents in Tanzania: A review of policies and programmes.

School health and nutrition programmes are effective strategies to address the health problems among school-going children and adolescents. We examined the policy environments, successesand bottlenecks associated with school health and nutrition programmes in Tanzania. We used the 'policy triangle framework' to examine 22 national and regional school health and nutrition policies and programmes in Tanzania. We also interviewed 16 key informants to gain further insights into school health and nutrition programmes. Several school health and nutrition policies in Tanzania outline the basic elements of school-based health and nutrition services. Yet, these documents neither recognise vulnerable groups, recommend age-appropriate strategies to address children's and adolescents' varied and transient needs, nor provide a framework for implementing and tracking recommended activities. In these documents, underweight and infectious diseases, including humanimmunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, are frequently identified as major concerns of young people, with little or no consideration of social determinants. Diverse strategies including school feeding, water and sanitation services, health and nutrition educationand promotion of healthy behaviours are identified. In doing so, these documents adequately define the roles and responsibilities of all government actors, but young people and their guardians are not actively engaged in design and implementation. Additionally, there are several challenges to implementing these policies including budgetary constraints, limited resources, a lack of inter-sectoral coordinationand insufficient capacity within targeted schools. To improve the health and nutritional status of school-going children and adolescents in Tanzania, adequate budgets, strengthened coordination and implementation efforts, the development of school-based stakeholders' capacity, as well as the involvement of all other stakeholders, including adolescents, are imperative.

Association between Caregiver-perceived Health Care Provider Cultural Sensitivity and Child Health Status in the National Survey of Children's Health: 2016–2020

Abstract: Objectives. To examine the association between caregiver-perceived cultural sensitivity of health care providers and child health status in the United States. Methods. We analyzed National Survey of Children's Health data (n = 145,226) from 2016–2020. Using logistic regression, we determined odds of reporting a better health status by level of caregiver-perceived provider cultural sensitivity while controlling for potential confounders. Results. Children with providers perceived as more culturally sensitive by their caregivers had 2.38 times the odds (95% confidence interval: 1.73, 3.28) of enjoying a better caregiver-assessed health status compared with children whose providers were perceived as less culturally sensitive. Caregivers of BIPOC children in our sample were 1.99 times more likely (95% CI: 1.89, 2.10) to report their provider as only sometimes or never culturally sensitive. Conclusions. Cultural sensitivity of health care providers, as perceived by caregivers, was associated with caregiver-assessed child health status in our study. This association remained significant when controlling for various sociodemographic variables. Our findings highlight the need for more research around the potential positive impact that improving provider cultural sensitivity could have on the health of children who are Black, Indigenous, or other People of Color (BIPOC).

Classification of Big Data Stunting Using Support Vector Regression Method at Stella Maris Medan Maternity Hospital

This study aims to classify big data related to stunting using the Support Vector Regression (SVR) method at Stella Maris Maternity Hospital, Medan. Stunting, a condition of impaired growth in children due to chronic malnutrition and repeated infections, affects physical and cognitive development. With increasing health data, big data processing methods are essential for accurate information. SVR was chosen for handling high-dimensional and non-linear data, providing precise results. The study uses medical information, nutritional history, and socio-economic factors collected from hospital patients. The research process includes data collection, pre-processing to address missing values and outliers, normalization, and SVR application. Final results use SVR with Voting Classifier combining Support Vector Classifier (SVC), Random Forest (RF), and Gradient Boosting (GB), achieving an accuracy of 91.67%. This approach effectively identifies main stunting factors, aiding clinical decision-making and intervention programs. The study showcases big data and machine learning's potential in healthcare, serving as a model for improving health services and monitoring children's health conditions.

Association between vision-related quality of life and mental health status in myopia children using various optical correction aids

PurposeTo evaluate the relationship between vision-related quality of life and mental health in myopia children with various optical aids. MethodsThis cross-sectional study enrolled children aged 8–13 years, exhibiting myopia ranging from −4.50 to −0.75 D, and utilizing various optical aids for correction. Full ocular examinations and completion of two questionnaires were performed. Vision-related quality of life was evaluated using the Paediatric Refractive Error Profile (PREP), and mental health status was assessed utilising the Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders (SCARED). Univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted to evaluate the association between vision-related quality of life and mental health status. ResultsThe study sample comprised 209 children with corrected myopia using single vision spectacles (100 [47.8 %]), soft contact lenses (66 [31.6 %]), and orthokeratology lenses (43 [20.6 %]). The mean age was 10.31 ± 1.65 y, and males accounted for 50.7 % of the sample. The distribution of demographic characteristics showed no significant difference among all correction types, except that the myopia duration was longer for orthokeratology lens wearers than those using spectacles (P=0.03). Contact lens showed clear benefits in almost all dimensions of vision-related quality of life, especially in appearance, satisfaction, activity and peer perceptions dimensions. The prevalence of anxiety disorders among spectacle wearers was 25.0 %, the highest among all groups. For myopia children with optical corrections, not being in the top 30 percent of their class rank, reporting lower PREP scores on symptoms, handling and peer perceptions dimensions were related with a higher prevalence of anxiety disorders. ConclusionsLower vision-related quality of life was associated with worse mental health status of myopia children with optical corrections. Identifying this association is crucial for protecting the mental health of myopia children and enhancing corrective measures.

The role of community health and nutrition volunteers in improving the health and nutrition status of infant and young children in remote areas, Hajjah, Yemen

BackgroundIn Yemen, morbidity and malnutrition are major public health problems. The Community Health and Nutrition Volunteers (CHNVs) program was launched to tackle these problems through providing services to mothers and their children residing in remote villages. Since establishment of the CHNVs program in Yemen, its outcome has never been evaluated. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the role of CHNVs in improving the immunization, morbidity and nutritional status of infant and young children (IYC).MethodsA comparative cross-sectional study design was conducted in Al-Maghrabah and Bani-Qais districts, Hajjah governorate. It was carried out between January and April 2023. A three-stage cluster sampling method was used. A total of 926 IYC with their mothers were interviewed using a pre-tested questionnaire. SPSS 26 was used for data analysis. The multinomial logistic regression and chi-square or fisher exact tests were used to compare the vaccination, morbidity and nutritional status of IYC between the volunteer and non-volunteer villages. Odds Ratio (OR) with 95% Confidence Interval (CI) were calculated. A p value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.ResultsThe IYC in volunteer villages were more likely to be fully or partially vaccinated compared to those in non-volunteer villages [OR = 2.3, 95% CI: 1.5–3.7, p < 0.0001, and OR = 1.9, 95% CI: 1.3–2.8, p = 0.001, respectively]. The specific coverage rates for BCG, and the 1st and 2nd doses of OPV/Pentavalent/Pneumo/Rota vaccines were significantly higher in the volunteer compared to non-volunteer villages [(OR = 1.8, 95% CI: 1.3–2.5, p < 0.0001), (OR = 1.5, 95% CI: 1.2–2.1, p = 0.003), and (OR = 1.5, 95% CI: 1.2-2.0, p = 0.002), respectively]. Moreover, the prevalence of diarrhea and fever among IYC was significantly lower in the volunteer compared to non-volunteer villages [(OR = 0.7, 95% CI: 0.5–0.9, p = 0.004) and (OR = 0.7 95% CI: 0.5–0.9, p = 0.045), respectively].ConclusionsThe study found that CHNVs play a significant role in improving vaccination status and the coverage rate for BCG, and 1st and 2nd doses of OPV/Pentavalent/Pneumo/Rota vaccines, and reducing the prevalence of diarrhea and fever among IYC in their villages compared to non-volunteer villages, in Hajjah governorate. Future follow-up study and expansion to other settings in different governorates is recommended.

Cooking fuel use and respiratory health of women and children in rural Ballabgarh, Haryana.

Household air pollution arising from combustion of unclean fuels during cooking activities causes serious respiratory health effects. This study investigated patterns of household cooking fuel use and its effect on respiratory health status of women and children. A cross-sectional study was conducted in rural households of Ballabgarh, Haryana during December 2019 to January 2020 among 18-45 years old women and their children having age between 6 and 59 months. A total of 450 households were selected using simple random sampling. Cooking fuel use was categorised as unclean (Wood, dung cakes, crop residues) and clean (LPG and electricity). The classification of mixed fuel use (predominantly unclean or clean) was based upon duration of unclean fuel use ≥ 2.5h per day. The clinical history and physical examination was done using a semi-structured questionnaire. Assessment of respiratory health status of women participants was done using peak expiratory flow meter and presence of pneumonia in children was evaluated as per Integrated Management of Neonatal and Childhood Illnesses (IMNCI) guidelines. Overall use of unclean cooking fuels was predominant in 59.6% of households and 71.8% of households had mixed fuel use. Only clean fuel use was in 11.3% of households. Nasal stuffiness, breathing difficulty and cough were observed among 13.1%, 10.5% and 8.5% among women while the common respiratory symptoms in children were cough (27.8%) and runny nose (22.9%). As compared to clean fuels, women using unclean fuels were more likely to have any respiratory symptom (aOR 3.0, 95% CI: 1.5-6.0) and impaired pulmonary functions (adjusted OR 1.9, 95% CI: 1.2-2.9). Cooking fuel use was not associated with respiratory symptoms and presence of pneumonia in children living in the households. Cooking with unclean fuel continues to be prevalent in the households of rural Ballabgarh and adversely affects the respiratory health of women indicating strengthening of initiatives promoting clean fuel use.

The Relationship Between Children's Health Status and Stunting in Toddlers at Mamboro Health Center, Palu

The Relationship Between Children's Health Status and Stunting in Toddlers at Mamboro Health Center, Palu