Higher Educational Level Of Mother Research Articles

Prevalence and predictors of appropriate complementary feeding practice among mothers with children 6–23 months in Northern Ghana

IntroductionAdequate assessment of appropriate complementary feeding practices requires an indicator that can measure its key components concurrently, but past studies often described the practice using single indicators. This study in northern Ghana therefore assessed the prevalence and predictors of appropriate complementary feeding practices as measured using a composite indicator.MethodsThe source of data for this analysis is from baseline studies of a community-based quasi-experimental study conducted prior to implementing a nutrition behaviour change communication intervention on radio. The study population comprised mothers and their children selected using a two-stage cluster sampling procedure. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with appropriate complementary feeding practices.ResultsThe overall prevalence of appropriate complementary feeding practices combining three key indicators (timely introduction of complementary food, adequacy of meal frequency, and meeting minimum dietary diversity) was 29.8% (95% CI: 27.4 - 32.3). Children aged 12-23 months [AOR = 2.26 (95% CI:1.41 - 3.61)], higher nutrition related knowledge ofcaretakers [AOR 1.51; 95% CI (1.15 - 1.98)], higher educational level of mothers [AOR1.95; 95% CI (1.17 - 3.25)], and positive nutrition related attitudes towards appropriatecomplementary feeding practices [AOR 1.59; 95% CI (1.21 - 2.09)] were significantlyassociated with appropriate complementary feeding practice.ConclusionsThe prevalence of appropriate complementary feeding practices was quite low among children aged 6–23 months. Sustainable nutrition education to mothers/caretakers during prenatal, delivery, postnatal, and child welfare clinic on appropriate complementary feeding should be strengthened to increase nutrition related knowledge and attitude towards appropriate complementary feeding practices.

Health literacy as a predictor of road traffic injury prevention

Abstract Background Road traffic injuries impose a substantial health burden among children. Health literacy is one of the most important determinants of non-communicable disease prevention. Parent health literacy is connected with their knowledge and behaviors regarding children road traffic injuries (CRTI) prevention. The aim of this study was to explore health literacy, knowledge and behaviors of mothers' in Croatia regarding CRTI prevention. Methods This population based cross-sectional questionnaire study was done during 2019 in convenient sample of mothers of school aged children. Sociodemographic data and data about knowledge and behaviors of mothers regarding CRTI prevention were collected by the use of specially designed questionnaire. Croatian version of the Newest Vital Sign screening test (NVS-HR) was used for heath literacy determination. Results There were 814 mothers' median age 36.0 (interquartile range 32.0. - 39.0). According to NVS-HR there were 17.7%, 26.5% and 55.8% of mothers with low, intermediate and adequate health literacy level, respectively. The higher levels of health literacy were connected with younger age of mothers (37 years old or less) (P = 0.027); urban area of settlement (P < 0.001); living with a partner (P = 0.018); higher educational level of mothers (P < 0.001) and with better self-perceived economic status (P = 0.009). The study revealed poor positive correlation between mothers' health literacy and their knowledge regarding CRTI prevention (rho=0.170; P < 0.001). The study further showed that there was no correlation between mothers' health literacy and their behavior regarding CRTI prevention (rho=0.072; P = 0.041). Finally, the study revealed poor positive correlation between mothers' knowledge and behavior regarding CRTI prevention (rho=0.193; P < 0.001). Conclusions The level of health literacy affects mothers' knowledge about CRTI prevention. Further studies are needed to better understand the underlying reasons for established association. Key messages Low parent health literacy is one of the predictors of poor parent knowledge about children road traffic injuries prevention. It is necessary to identify and to address low parent health literacy in preventive strategies directed towards children road traffic injury prevention.

Determinants of prenatal exposure to perfluoroalkyl substances in the Slovak birth cohort

BackgroundPerfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are man-made fluorinated compounds with endocrine-disrupting properties, detected in 99% of serum samples worldwide and associated with adverse childhood health outcomes. The aim of this study was to describe determinants of prenatal exposure to PFASs in Slovakia. MethodsThis study was based on Slovak multicentric prospective mother-child cohort PRENATAL (N = 796). Cord blood samples were collected within 2010–2012 and PFASs were analyzed in a subpopulation of 322 newborns. Concentrations of perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) were measured in the samples of cord blood using an ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography- mass spectrometry (U-HPLC−MS) method. From questionnaires, we obtained information on medical history of mother, socio-demographic factors, nutrition and environmental factors. Association between maternal characteristics and PFASs exposure was analyzed using multivariable linear regression models. ResultsThe highest cord blood concentration (geometric mean ± SD) was observed for PFOA (0.79 ± 2.21 ng/ml) followed by PFOS (0.36 ± 2.56 ng/ml), PFNA (0.20 ± 2.44 ng/ml) and PFHxS (0.07 ± 2.36 ng/ml). Primiparity was associated with higher levels of all four PFAS: PFOS (exp. β = 1.25; 95%CI[1.03; 1.53]), PFOA (exp. β = 1.49; 95%CI[1.18; 1.89]), PFNA (exp. β = 1.30; 95%CI[1.05; 1.60]) and PFHxS (exp. β = 1.49; 95%CI [1.20; 1.86]). In addition, maternal age category 29 years and more was associated with higher PFNA and PFHxS levels (exp. β = 1.27; 95%CI[1.04; 1.55] and exp. β = 1.30; 95%CI[1.06; 1.60], respectively) and higher educational level of mother was associated with higher PFNA levels (exp. β = 1.32; 95%CI[1.04; 1.68]). Higher fish consumption was associated with lower PFNA levels (exp. β = 0.49; 95%CI[0.26; 0.92]). ConclusionsWe observed that PFASs cord blood concentrations were comparable or lower than those measured in western or northern European countries. We identified parity as the main determinant of PFASs exposure in our population and maternal age and education as factors that might be associated with exposure to certain PFASs.

Evaluation of access and utilization of EPI services amongst children 12-23 months in Kwahu Afram Plains, Eastern region, Ghana.

IntroductionHigh vaccination coverage is required to successfully control, eliminate and eradicate vaccine preventable diseases (VPDs). In Ghana, access complete vaccination coverage is 77%. However, sustaining high coverages in island communities such as Kwahu Afram Plains North (KAPN) is still a challenge.Methods Study site and settings, an Island district. It targeted children aged 12–23 months. We used a modified WHO EPI 30 by 7 cluster sampling approach. Semi-structured questionnaires were employed for data collection. Wincosas and EpiInfo were used for data entry, management and analysis. The vaccination coverage, antigen-specific coverage calculated. The probability was set at 0.05 and the value was calculated to determine statistical significance of association.ResultsOf the 480 records of children analysed, fully vaccinated accounted 81.3%, partially 16.7% and not vaccinated at all 2.1%. Access was 97.3% and utilization 91.2% with Pentavalent 1-3 dropout rate of 8.8%. Coverage for specific antigens were: BCG (97.1%), OPV 1/Pentavalent 1/PCV 1/Rotarix 1 (97.3%), OPV2/ Pentavalent 2/PCV 2/Rotarix 2 (94.0%), OPV3/ Pentavalent3/PCV 3 (88.8%), MR (87.7%) and YF (87.7%). Vaccination card availability, higher educational level of mothers and lower parity levels were significantly associated (p < 0.05) positively with childhood vaccination status. Invalid doses were 21.6% of childhood total vaccinations. Key reasons accounting for non-vaccination were: distant place of immunization 34.4 % (31/90), mother being busy 14.4% (13/90), vaccine unavailability 10.0% (9/90) and fears of side reactions 8.9% (8/90).ConclusionEPI childhood vaccination coverage for January, 2016 in KAPN District was high. There is the need to focus on counteracting the reasons identified to account for vaccination failure. This would improve and sustain vaccination coverage.

Prevalence and Socio-demografic Determinants of Under-Weight and Pre-obesity among in -School Adolescents in Olorunda Local Goverment Area, Osun State, Nigeria.

INTRODUCTION: Adolescent obesity is under-estimated in this part of the world. However, there is a global change in the trend of over-weight and obesity in both developed and developing countries. OBJECTIVES: The study determined the prevalence and socio-demographic determinants of under-weight and pre-obesity among in-school adolescents in Olorunda Local Government Area of Osun State. METHODOLOGY: A descriptive cross-sectional study using a pre-tested semi-structured questionnaire was carried out in Olorunda Local government area in Osun State. Ten out of the twenty five secondary schools in the LGA were randomly selected. Multi-stage sampling technique was used to select 497 respondents from the ten schools. Anthropometric method was used to asses the nutritional status, body mass index was calculated and data was analyzed with SPSS version 11. Univariate and bivariate analysis were done and the critical level was set at 0.05. RESULTS: Majority of the respondents were between ages 15 and 19 years (60.5%), male to female ratio was 1.1:1.0. None of the study participants was obese while 3.8% of them were pre-obese and 41.2% of them were underweight. Socio-demographic factors found to be statistically significantly associated with pre-obesity were female gender, higher educational level of mothers and living with both parents (p