High Percentage Of Children Research Articles

Association of Allergy Specialty Care and Asthma Outcomes for Medicaid-Enrolled Children

To evaluate the comparative effectiveness of allergy specialist care for children with asthma enrolled in the Arkansas Medicaid program. We used the Arkansas All-Payers Claims Database (APCD) to identify Medicaid-enrolled children with asthma who had an allergy specialist visit in 2018. These children were propensity score matched to children without an allergy specialist visit to evaluate differences in asthma-related adverse events (AAE), specifically emergency department visits and/or hospitalizations in 2019. Multivariable logistic regression was used to assess the association between allergy specialist care in 2018 and AAEs in 2019. Prior to matching, a higher percentage of children with an allergy specialist visit had persistent asthma, were atopic, and received influenza vaccination. In the matched sample, 10.1% of identified patients experienced an AAE in 2019. Adjusted analysis showed 21.0% lower odds of AAEs (aOR: 0.79; 95%CI: 0.63, 0.98) in 2019 for children with an allergy specialist visit (n=2,964) in 2018 compared with those without an allergy specialist visit (ME: 9.1% vs 11.0%; p=0.04). Children with asthma enrolled in Arkansas Medicaid who saw an allergy specialist were less likely to have an AAE. Asthma quality metrics developed using guideline-based recommendations for allergy specialist care should be considered for asthma health management programs.

Persistence of hepatitis B surface antibody until 7 years of age following administration of hexavalent and pentavalent vaccines in children at 2, 4, 6, and 18 months

Thailand incorporated the hepatitis B (HepB) vaccine into the infant combination vaccine known as pentavalent wP-containing vaccines (DTwP-HB-Hib) and hexavalent aP-containing vaccines (DTaP-IPV-HB-Hib). We followed healthy children from the clinical trial (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02408926) in which children were randomly assigned to receive either pentavalent or hexavalent vaccines for their primary series (administered at 2, 4, and 6 months) and first booster vaccination (at 18 months), following the monovalent HepB vaccine at birth. Blood samples were collected to evaluate the persistence of hepatitis B surface antibody (anti-HBs) at 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 years of age. The results showed that at 7 years of age, a higher percentage of children in the hexavalent group maintained anti-HBs levels ≥ 10 mIU/mL compared to those in the pentavalent group (86.9 % vs. 59.7 %). This study showed good persistence of anti-HBs among hexavalent-vaccinated children 5.5 years after the last dose of the HepB vaccine.

The Impact of Health Status on Health Care Utilization of Children in Foster Care.

This study sought to understand the health status of children in foster care; the relationship between their health status and health care utilization; and demographic and placement factors associated with health care utilization. To estimate relationships between health status and health care utilization, this study used electronic health records from 4976 children in foster care seen at a children's hospital in the southwestern United States, 2017 to 2020. An algorithm classified patients' health status as nonchronic, noncomplex chronic, or complex chronic. Descriptive statistics were used to describe patients and utilization. The χ 2 , Kruskal-Wallis, and pairwise comparison post hoc tests were used to examine relationships between health status and health care utilization. Zero-inflated negative binomial (ZINB) regression further estimated relationships between health status and health care utilization while factoring in demographic and placement characteristics. Within the sample, 35.6% had complex chronic health status. Significant differences were found among health status groups in age, gender, ethnicity, and maltreatment exposure. Both nonparametric pairwise comparisons and the ZINB regression model showed that having complex chronic health was associated with higher utilization of all hospital resources: emergency, admission, primary and specialty care, and various therapies, relative to having noncomplex chronic and nonchronic health. A high percentage of children in foster care had complex chronic health, and these patients used significantly more resources. This study suggests that hospital-based health clinics focused on children in foster care and care coordination may be warranted.

Implementation and outcomes of a quality improvement project to systematically assess the gross motor skills in school-aged children with cystic fibrosis.

Limited data exist on the gross motor abilities of children with cystic fibrosis (CF). The objective of this research project was to implement a systematic gross motor assessment in children with CF ages 4-12 years. Secondarily, we aimed to assess demographic characteristics associated with gross motor delays. Physical therapists aimed to evaluate at least 50% of eligible children (4-12 years) at our CF Center over 1 year using the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of motor Proficiency, second edition (BOT-2). Delays are defined by scores less than 18th percentile. Demographic and clinical data included body mass index, hospitalizations, genotype, and comorbidities. Basic descriptive statistics summarized patient information. Parametric and nonparametric methods compared groups of interest. Linear regression assessed associations between BOT-2 measures and clinical characteristics. The BOT-2 evaluation was successfully implemented with 69% of eligible patients being evaluated. Forty-five (62.5%) scored below average. Impaired strength (22.2%) was most common, followed by impaired balance (16.7%), running speed and agility (15.3%), and bilateral coordination (8.3%). 15.5% scored below average on their total motor composite score (TMC). Increased age, comorbidities and hospitalizations were associated with a lower TMC. The BOT-2 was successfully implemented as part of routine CF care to screen for gross motor delays in children. Results suggest that a high percentage of children with CF, especially older children with comorbid conditions or a history of hospitalization, have impaired gross motor function. These findings support the need for routine gross motor evaluations and physical therapy interventions within pediatric CF clinics.

Epidemiological behavior of childhood obesity: A continental point of view

Weight excess during the childhood has been one of the most critical public health problems worldwide in the past few decades. It is considered a significant predictor of adulthood obesity, increased cardiometabolic diseases, and premature mortality. Since the Industrial Revolution, childhood obesity has risen due to sedentary lifestyles and poor eating habits, contributing to the development of obesogenic environments around children in different parts of the world. In this regard, Oceania is positioned as the continent with the highest prevalence globally; however, these results did not consider Australia and New Zealand’s data, probably due to the significant differences in population sizes. America has the second highest percentage of children under five who are overweight. Curiously, Asia’s obesity rates are more significant in higher socioeconomic statuses and urban areas than in children aged 2-4 years. Likewise, Africa displays similar epidemiologic behaviour. Qatar and Kuwait are the countries with the highest obesity prevalence on the continent. Moreover, Europe exhibits a notable South-North gradient, which establishes a higher prevalence of obesity in Mediterranean countries than the Nordic ones. In this regard, various prevention and interventional programs have been developed to combat this silent epidemic, focusing their efforts on nutritional education, improving children’s and parents’ lifestyles, and fighting the influence of the media on their behaviour, and decisions. Therefore, the objective of this review was to describe the epidemiological behaviour of childhood obesity from a continental perspective.

Coagulation disorders in children with acute pancreatitis at the Vietnam National Children's hospital

Various hematological abnormalities including coagulation factor abnormalities, leukocytosis, acute hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura, and disseminated intravascular coagulopathy have been reported in acute pancreatitis patients. The purpose of this descriptive cross - sectional study was to describe characteristics of coagulation disorders in 96 children with acute pancreatitis at the Vietnam National Children's Hospital. rom January 2022 to March 2023. Results showed that the mean age of children was 6.2 ± 3.2 years old, and the boy to girl ratio was 1.2 to 1, 69.8% of children had coagulation disorders. Of the 67 children who had abnormal coagulation tests, 64.2% had hypercoagulability, 35.8% had mixed hypercoagulability, 28.4% had fibrinolysis and 25.4% had disseminated intravascular coagulation. Most coagulation disorders cases showed no clinical manifestations and only 3.1% had thrombosis and hemorrhage. The factors associated with coagulopathy were hyperlipidemia and pancreatic necrosis. In conclusion, although coagulation disorders showed up in a high percentage of children with acute pancreatitis, they are difficult to be recognized based on clinical manifestations. This highlights the importance of early identification based on hemostasis testing, as it can lead to better overall management and treatment.

Findings on Sleep of Children with Cerebral Palsy and Their Mothers' Sleep and Emotional Intelligence

Objective: This study was aimed to (i) sleep characteristics of children with cerebral palsy (CP), and sleep and emotional intelligence results of their mothers, and (ii) explore the relationship these parameters both with each other and with demographic characteristics of children and their mothers. Methods: Thirty-three children with CP and their mothers were included this study. Functional level of children was evaluated with Gross Motor Function Classification Scale (GMFCS) while sleep parameters with Child Sleep Habits Questionnaire-Abbreviated Form (CSHQ-AF). Sleep quality and emotional intelligence of mothers was evaluated by The Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and Revised Schutte Emotional Intelligence Scale (RSEI), successively. Results: The highest percentage of children with CP participating in the study was at level 3 (GMFCS) with 24.24%. Mean sleep score of children with CP according to CSHQ-AF was 50.33 (SD: 9.38) points. Twenty-nine (87.9%) of children with CP had pediatric sleep problem while 51.5% of mothers had poor sleep quality. RSEI total score of mothers was 149.54 (SD: 16.94). No relationship was found between sleep and emotional intelligence of mothers with sleep of children with CP (p>0.05). Conclusion: The rate of sleep problems was found to be higher in children with CP compared to their mothers as expected. The lack of relationship between sleep and emotional intelligence can be explained by the reality that both parameters can be affected by many factors.

Transitioning to a Plant-Based Menu in Childcare: Identifying the Nutritional, Financial, and Logistical Considerations.

International health organizations have called for a shift towards more plant-based foods as a way of promoting both individual health and environmental sustainability. Given the high percentage of children in Canada who attend childcare and the high volume of food provided in childcare, transitioning menus to incorporate plant-based foods could have important implications for both planetary and child health. The purpose of this case study is to describe a childcare centre's transition to a plant-based menu. A detailed nutritional analysis of the menu was conducted. The financial and logistical implications of the transitions to a plant-based menu were also assessed. Nutritional analysis revealed that the plant-based menu met or exceeded the daily nutrient requirement for all the key nutrients explored. Financially, the transition led to a 9% reduction in food costs. Logistically, the transition led to improved efficiency and safety with regard to food preparation, with substantially fewer tailored meals due to allergies and dietary restrictions required after the transition. These novel findings are relevant for food service administrators interested in transitioning to a plant-based menu as well as public health dietitians who could support the transition.

Android Based Mental Health Support Application Using Android Studio

Abstract According to the World Health Organization (WHO) over 2,000 cases of suicide had been reported in the Philippines in 2000 to 2012. Suicide victims ranged from 15 to 29 years old. The number of cases is likely to be much higher because many people suffering from mental health illnesses are hesitant to seek help or due to some financial constraints. With a high percentage of children and adolescents affected by mental health problems, the researchers developed a support system to help them cope with it. It will never replace therapy, but it is recommended as a supplement to therapy. This application is intended for UE Caloocan college students suffering from mental health issues. It can be used anytime and anywhere, making it easier for students to use. Having an application like this can help encourage students to be more aware of their mental health condition and thereby improves the student’s performance academically. The application is a support system with different features like motivational quotes and videos, a friendly online community, a nature soundtrack, mindfulness feature, daily reminder, and a mood tracker to better understand one’s mental health status. Thus, it will help students to overcome mental health problems and to discover ways of handling it. Keywords: Mental health, mobile application, android studio

Transcranial electric motor evoked potential monitoring during scoliosis surgery in children with cerebral palsy and active seizure disorder: is it feasible and safe?

Use of spinal cord monitoring in children with cerebral palsy (CP) and neuromuscular scoliosis is challenging. The previous reports suggest low success rates in the setting of CP, and it is unclear if transcranial electric motor evoked potentials (TcMEP) monitoring is contraindicated in patients with an active seizure disorder. The purpose of this study was to determine (1) are patients with CP able to be appropriately monitored with TcMEP? and (2) does TcMEP cause an increase in seizure activity? This was an institutional review board-approved retrospective cohort study observing 304 patients from 2011 to 2020. Inclusion criteria included all patients with CP undergoing posterior spinal fusion during this time. Intraoperative data were examined for the ability to obtain monitoring and any intraoperative events. Patients were followed for 3months postoperatively to determine any increase in seizure activity that could have been attributed to the TcMEP monitoring. Of the 304 patients who were observed, 21% (20.8%) were unable to be monitored due to lacking baseline signals from the extremities. Seventy-seven percent (77.5%) were successfully monitored with TcMEP. For these patients, no increased seizure activity was documented either intra- or postoperatively. A high percentage of children (77.5%) with CP were able to be successfully monitored with TcMEP during posterior spinal fusion. Furthermore, the concerns about increased seizure activity after TcMEP were not supported by the data from this cohort. Technical details of successful neuromonitoring in these patients are important and included increased stimulation voltage requirements and latency times. III retrospective comparative study.

Family centered early childhood development: a case of Rongo Subcounty, Migori Kenya

The early childhood period from conception to three years is critical in a child’s health, well-being and brain development. Proper care and stimulation therefore, contributes to a child’s productivity that lasts through childhood to adulthood. It is estimated that globally, 43% of children under five years are at risk of failing to achieve their developmental potential. In Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), this portion is approximately 66%. The Kenya Demographic Health Survey (KDHS) 2022 revealed that 21% of children in Kenya aged 24-59 months are not developmentally on track. A higher percentage of children in urban (87%) than rural (73%) areas are developmentally on track. The percentage of children developmentally on track increases with increasing mothers’ education from 51% among children whose mothers have no education to 91% among those whose mothers have more than secondary education. The percentage of children developmentally on track also increases with increasing household wealth from 61% among children in the lowest wealth quantile to 93% among those in the highest quantile. This therefore calls for parenting/caregiving programmes that targets parents/caregivers from the lowest household wealth index as well as those with mothers having lowest education levels. Lwala Community Alliance with funding from Comic Relief piloted a Family Centered earlcy childhood development (ECD) program in North Kamagambo ward, Rongo Subcounty, Migori County Kenya in 2021. The long-term goal of the program was to ensure that children under the age of five years reach their developmental potential in a nurturing care environment supported by responsive and sensitive men and women caregivers. The community health volunteers (CHW) through household visitation, group parenting sessions, and facility-based education sessions implemented the program. This was meant to improve outcomes across child health, caregiver support, health worker capacity, and the enabling environment. Building on the success of the pilot, an evaluation and baseline study was conducted to explore the outcome of the pilot intervention and to upscale the program into three new wards in Rongo Subcounty. In order to accomplish this, baseline data was collected in three areas (East Kamagambo, Central Kamagambo and South Kamagambo) where scaling up of the program will happen before commencement of intervention activities. Findings revealed that the primary caregiver plays a critical role in caring for young children during the day by providing care for children’s basic needs. It was noted that households in North Kamagambo introduced complementary foods after the recommended six months as compared to the other three wards where other foods were introduced to babies before six months are over. Findings further revealed that there was a significant increase in knowledge especially on child rights and abuse from baseline, midline and end line in North Kamagambo with 86%, 90% and 91%, respectively. Caregivers’ ability to identify signs of a child who has been abused seemed good across the four locations. Caregivers in North Kamagambo provided higher levels of nurturing care to their children compared to caregivers in other wards

Effects of Intraventricular Vancomycin Administration on the Prevention of Ventricular Shunt Infection.

Shunt infection causes death in many patients diagnosed with hydrocephalus and increases the duration of hospitalization and treatment costs. A high percentage of children are forced to undergo re-surgery due to shunt dysfunction or infection. The present study aimed to investigate the role of intraventricular (IVT) vancomycin in the prevention of ventricular shunt infection in children with hydrocephalus who were referred to Akbar Hospital in Mashhad, Iran, between the years 2017 and 2021. The present descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on 192 children with hydrocephalus who underwent shunt surgery at Akbar Hospital in Mashhad, Iran, between the years 2017 and 2021. Patients were divided into two groups of intervention (n=69) and control (n=123). The patients in the intervention group received 30 mg of IVT vancomycin during shunt surgery. The rate of shunt obstruction and infection were then compared between the two study groups. The two study groups were matched in terms of demographic and clinical information except for gender (P=0.02). Moreover, no significant difference was reported between the two groups in terms of intelligence development (χ2=0.51; P=0.47), verbal development (χ2=0.1; P=0.75), and movement development (χ2=1.05; P=0.3). The frequency of shunt infection and shunt obstruction was estimated at 8.8% and 18.2%, respectively. The shunt infection rate was lower in the vancomycin IVT group than in the control group (χ2=4.07; P=0.04), while no difference was observed between the two groups in terms of shunt obstruction (χ2=3.66; P=0.056). The comparison of the two study groups indicated no significant difference between them in terms of mortality (χ2=0.004; P=0.95). It seems that IVT vancomycin should be recommended for inclusion in hydrocephalus surgery protocol to reduce postoperative shunt infection. It is recommended that shunt protocols be adopted in future multicenter prospective randomized controlled trials on the reduction of ventriculoperitoneal shunt infections to further evaluate the efficacy of IVT antibiotics.

COVID-19 Vaccine Coverage in India: A District-Level Analysis.

India implemented the largest COVID-19 vaccination drive in the world, through which it vaccinated the majority of its population. Lessons from the Indian COVID-19 vaccination experience can be invaluable for other LMICs as well as for preparedness for future outbreaks. Our study is designed to explore the factors associated with COVID-19 vaccination coverage in India at the district level. We used data from COVID-19 vaccination in India combined with several other administrative data to create a unique data set that facilitated a spatio-temporal exploratory analysis by uncovering the factors associated with vaccination rates across different vaccination phases and districts. We found evidence that past reported infection rates were positively correlated with COVID-19 vaccination outcomes. Past cumulative COVID-19 deaths as a proportion of district populations were associated with lower COVID-19 vaccination, but the percentage of past reported infection was positively correlated with first-dose COVID-19 vaccination, which might indicate a positive role of higher awareness created by a higher reported infection rate. Districts that on average had a higher population burden per health centre were likely to have lower COVID-19 vaccination rates. Vaccination rates were lower in rural areas relative to urban areas, whereas the association with literacy rate was positive. Districts with a higher percentage of children with complete immunisation were associated with higher COVID-19 vaccination, whereas low vaccination was observed in districts that had higher percentages of wasted children. COVID-19 vaccination was lower among pregnant and lactating women. Higher vaccination was observed among populations with higher blood pressure and hypertension (which were a few of the co-morbidities associated with COVID-19 infection).

Cardiovascular and Diabetes Risk in Preschoolers

Objective: To perform an exploratory analysis of possible alterations in clinical markers of cardiovascular risk and type 2 diabetes in preschoolers living in urban and suburban areas of the municipality of Hermosillo, Sonora, Northwest Mexico. Methods: An observational and cross-sectional study was carried out on children from urban and suburban areas. Their weight, height, waist circumference, body fat percentage, and blood pressure were measured, and their lipid profile, glucose, and insulin concentrations were evaluated. Results: Eighty-two children with an average age of five were included in the study; 48 from the conurbation and 34 from the urban area. We found that malnutrition, overweight, and high body fat percentage (27 ± 0.52) coexist. In the suburban area, there was a higher percentage of children with pre-hypertension and alterations in lipids: elevated triglycerides (35%) and low HDL-c (25%) (p < 0.01). In the urban area, there was a higher percentage of children with altered glucose (12%), elevated insulin concentrations, and insulin resistance. Conclusion: The findings of this study show that cardiovascular risk factors and type 2 diabetes are prevalent in children aged three to six living in urban and conurbation areas of Hermosillo, Sonora.

Association Between Baby Walker Use and Infant Functional Motor Development.

The aim of this study was to determine the association between baby walker use and infant motor development, quality of gait, and potential development of lower extremity deformities. An anonymous survey was conducted among 6874 parents and legal guardians regarding the use of baby walkers, their children's development, and the occurrence of lower extremity deformities and gait disorders. A total of 969 questionnaires were returned. Baby walkers were used by 15.6% of children. A higher percentage of children who used baby walkers omitted crawling compared with the 10.7% of children who did not use baby walkers. Gait disorders occurred at a similar percentage in both groups. Use of baby walkers may be associated with infant motor development. Infants who used a baby walker were 3 times more likely to not have crawled for mobility than those who did not use a baby walker.

Adjunctive efficacy of Lactis XLTG11 for Acute diarrhea in children: A randomized, blinded, placebo-controlled study

ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of Bifidobacterium animalis sp. Lactis XLTG11, as an adjunctive treatment for acute watery diarrhea in children, using a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study design. MethodEligible children with diarrhea were randomly assigned into one of two groups: an intervention group (IG, n = 35), which received conventional treatment plus the probiotic, and a control group (CG, n = 35), which received only conventional treatment. Fecal samples were collected from all children before and after the intervention to measure biochemical indices and analyze gut microbiome (GM) composition. ResultThe duration of diarrhea (121.3 ± 11.5 h) and hospital length of stay (3.4 ± 1.1 d) in the IG were significantly shorter than those in the CG (133.4 ± 14.1 h and 4 ± 1.3 d, respectively; P < 0.001 and P = 0.041, respectively). A higher percentage of children in the IG showed improvements compared with the CG (57.1% versus 25.7%, P < 0.001). The calprotectin level in the IG was significantly lower than that in the CG after the intervention (928.91 ± 158.90 ng/g versus 1029.86 ± 133.25 ng/g, P = 0.028). XLTG11 administration led to a higher abundance of species B. longum and < breve, increased α-diversity of the GM (P < 0.05), and upregulated the functional genes of the GM related to immunity and nutrient absorption. ConclusionsAdministration of XLTG11 at a dose of 1 × 1010 CFU/d was effective in reducing the duration of diarrhea, inducing beneficial changes in GM composition and gene functions.

Ukrainians in Polish schools

The objective of this paper is to provide an analysis of the integration of Ukrainian students in Polish schools. The Polish educational policies include preparatory classes, inclusion in mainstream classes, additional educational classes in Polish, early childhood education and vocational training. The paper also examines the Directives of the European Union regarding the integration of Ukrainian students. The European Commission directive measures regulate European Union countries education policies to incorporate Ukrainian students. While Poland has met most of the requirements of the European Union Directives, there also challenges in the Polish education system. Language barriers, policy gaps and the lack of available resources are examined. The paper provides several perspectives on education in relationship to the rapid migration of Ukrainian students to Poland. The war in Ukraine by Russia has changed Poland from an emigrant to an immigrant country. Poland has received the highest number of Ukrainians among the European countries since the start of the conflict by Russia on February 24th, 2022. The high percentage of children among the immigrants has particularly challenged the compulsory education system in Poland. / Keywords: inclusive education, education policy, Poland, Ukraine, European Union

Secular trends of sleep-wake patterns in Hong Kong preschoolers

ObjectiveTo evaluate the secular trends of sleep-wake patterns of Hong Kong preschool children. MethodsKindergartens from the four geographical regions of Hong Kong were randomly invited to take part in a sleep survey in 2012 and again in 2018. The parent-completed questionnaire provided information on socioeconomic status (SES), children's, and parental sleep-wake patterns. Secular trends and risk factors associated with short sleep duration in preschoolers were explored. ResultsA sample of 5048 preschool children was included in the secular comparison, with 2306 and 2742 from the 2012 and 2018 surveys, respectively. A higher percentage of children in 2018 (41.1% vs 26.7%, p < 0.001) did not achieve the recommended sleep duration. During the survey years, sleep duration decreased by 13 ([95%CI: 18.5 to −8.1]) and 18 min ([95%CI: 23.6 to −12.2]) on weekdays and weekends, respectively. The overall trend of nap decrease was not significant. Sleep onset latency significantly increased on both weekdays (6 min [95%CI: 3.5 to 8.5]) and weekends (7 min [95%CI: 4.7 to 9.9]). Children's sleep duration was positively correlated with parental sleep duration with a correlation coefficient ranging from 0.16 to 0.27 (p < 0.001). ConclusionsA significant proportion of Hong Kong preschool children did not achieve the recommended amount of sleep. A downward secular trend in sleep duration was observed during the survey period. Public health measures to improve sleep duration in preschool children should be a high priority.

Lead exposure in childhood and historical land use: a geostatistical analysis of soil lead concentrations in South Philadelphia parks.

Elevated soil lead (Pb) concentrations in public parks and outdoor spaces continue to have a significant impact on the public health of urban communities. This study evaluated the geospatial and statistical relationships between soil Pb concentrations, the urban environment, and child blood lead levels (BLLs) in the neighborhood of South Philadelphia, PA. Soil samples (n = 240) were collected from forty (40) public parks and analyzed for Pb using a field portable X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analyzer. Geospatial mapping was used to investigate historical land use of each park, vehicular traffic on adjacent roadways, and density of residential/commercial development. Predicted child BLLs and BLL "high-risk areas" were identified using interpolation and biokinetic modeling. Childhood BLL data for South Philadelphia (n = 10,379) was provided by the Philadelphia Department of Public Health (2013-2015). Of the two hundred forty (240) soil samples collected, Pb levels for 10.8% of samples were ≥ 400ppm. Two hundred sixty-nine of 10,379 children screened were identified with BLLs ≥ 5µg/dL. Historical land use of each park was shown to be significantly correlated (p = 0.01) with soil Pb concentrations and child BLLs ≥ 5µg/dL. Approximately 13.3% of the variance in child BLLs ≥ 5µg/dL was attributed to historical site land use. Overall, undeveloped/greenspace historical land use exhibited the highest soil Pb concentrations in the study. Geospatial relationships were identified between census tracts with higher percentages of children with BLLs ≥ 5µg/dL and interpolated BLL "high-risk" areas (≥ 3.5µg/dL). The results of this study suggest soil accumulation time and historical land use may influence soil Pb concentrations and child BLLs in urban communities. Measured soil Pb concentrations were determined to effectively model community-wide contamination and childhood Pb exposure.

COVID-19 and its impact on mental health as a function of gender, age, and income

This paper examines the impact of COVID-19 on the mental health of people from different socioeconomic classes. This has been done by creating an anxiety score, based on responses to a set of questions that were asked as part of a two-round telephonic survey done by Young Lives Data for India. Using this index, anxiety levels have been classified as high, medium, and low. As the dependent variable has an ordered nature, an ordered logit model has been used for regression. According to the results, job loss, death of the family’s earning member or mishap in the family, and price increases all contributed to increased anxiety. The analysis indicates that anxiety levels among women were higher than among men because of the increased burden of household chores and childcare responsibilities. Also, anxiety levels were higher among those who perceived themselves as rich or poor as opposed to those who were comfortable in their income group. There was a higher anxiety level among the rich due to income loss and increased household responsibilities. A high percentage of children and elders reported feeling anxious; school closures and a lack of social interaction caused stress. Isolation also plagued the elderly. Furthermore, many students couldn’t avail online learning opportunities due to a lack of resources. The government implemented many policies to mitigate these issues, which included those to mitigate the immediate hunger problem.