Preschool Children Of Low Socioeconomic Status Research Articles

Assessment of vascular function in low socioeconomic status preschool children: a pilot study

Elevated brachial blood pressure (BP) in childhood tracks into adulthood. Central BP and measures of arterial stiffness, such as aortic augmentation index (AIx) and pulse wave velocity (PWV), have been associated with future cardiovascular disease. This pilot study assessed the feasibility of noninvasively measuring these parameters in preschool children and explored factors that may be associated with elevated BP in this age group. Brachial BP was measured using an electronic oscillometric unit (Dinamap PRO 100) and defined as elevated when systolic BP (SBP) and/or diastolic BP (DBP) was ≥ the 90th percentile for age, gender, and height. Central BP, AIx, and PWV were measured using applanation tonometry (SphygmoCor). C-reactive protein (CRP) was measured in serum samples. Sixteen African-American preschool children were recruited (4.4 ± 0.8 years, 69% males), 6 (38%) of whom had an elevated brachial BP (110 ± 10/69 ± 4 vs. 96 ± 8/55 ± 6 mm Hg, Cohen's d = 2.2). Children with elevated brachial BP had higher central SBP (d = 1.6) and DBP (d = 1.96) (97 ± 6/68 ± 4 vs. 85 ± 8/57 ± 6 mm Hg), AIx (d = 0.88) (31 ± 8 vs. 18 ± 16%, standardized to heart rate), and CRP (3.1 [2.3–6.3] vs. 0.1 [0.1–0.3] mg/dL, d = 2). There was no significant difference in PWV between groups (d = 0.26). CRP and SBP (Spearman r = 0.70), DBP (r = 0.68), central SBP (r = 0.58), and central DBP (r = 0.71) were positively correlated. Wide confidence intervals for the estimated effect sizes indicated a large degree of uncertainty about all estimates due to the small sample size. Noninvasive assessment of central BP and arterial stiffness is feasible in preschool children. Vascular inflammation may be an important factor that influences BP at an early age. Further studies in preschool children are needed to elucidate mechanisms of early onset hypertension.

Underweight in low socioeconomic status preschool children with severe early childhood caries

The prevalence of severe early childhood caries (sECC) is high in developing nations like India. It has local as well as systemic manifestations. This study evaluated the influence of sECC and its management on growth parameters and quality of life (QoL) of preschool children from low socioeconomic status families. 100 preschool children (50 with sECC and 50 with no dental caries; mean age 5.42 ± 0.74 years) from low socioeconomic status were studied. QoL; Decayed, extracted and filled teeth (def) index; Height (Ht); Weight (Wt); Head circumference (HC); Mid arm circumference (MAC); and, Body Mass Index (BMI) were recorded at baseline and compared after six months of dental rehabilitation. The test group included children with sECC having def > 6 and at least one pulpally involved tooth.The control group children did not have DC (def =0). Both the groups were age, gender and socioeconomic status matched. Statistical analysis was done using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) v.11.0 computer software. Chi-square test, Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), Fisher's exact and paired t tests were performed for comparing the groups at baseline and six month recall visit. Baseline measurements showed that 46% of children with sECC had Wt below 3rd percentile (underweight; mean 15.49 ± 1.87Kg) which was less than the controls (mean Wt 16.34 ± 1.46 kg). They also complained of pain (40%), avoidance of hard food (24%), noticed Wt loss (18%) and sleep disturbances (12%). After 6 months of dental rehabilitation, there was a significant improvement in their Wt (P= 0.002) and QoL. sECC negatively influenced the Wt and QoL of children. Awareness, education of parents and facilitation of oral health services may help in improving their Wt and QoL.

Relationships Among Private Speech and Creativity in Head Start and Low—Socioeconomic Status Preschool Children

The purpose of this study was to explore Vygotsky's notion of private speech as a cognitive self-regulatory process and how it related to creativity measures among at-risk children. Thirty-two Head Start and state-funded Pre-K children completed the Torrance creativity test Thinking Creatively in Action and Movement (TCAM). The children's private speech was collected in an open play context and while children completed structured logical— mathematical activities. Results revealed that both originality and fluency creativity were related to self-direction private speech and grand total private speech. Findings support that cognitive self-regulating private speech may be related to creative thinking and that private speech may offer a method for assessing early creative thinking in children from various cultural and economic backgrounds.

A Pilot Study of Differences in Play Behavior Between Children of Low and Middle Socioeconomic Status

Although play is an important activity of childhood, it is often a neglected modality in occupational therapy. Poverty has been identified as a factor that adversely affects the play of children when a limited number of factors are studied. The purpose of this pilot study was to explore multiple play behaviors that may be related to socioeconomic status. The developmental play ages of 41 middle socioeconomic status preschool children (22 boys, 19 girls) and 43 low socioeconomic status preschool children (24 boys, 19 girls) were assessed with a modified version of the Preschool Play Scale (Bledsoe & Shepherd, 1982; Knox, 1974). Teachers rated the children's play behavior after a minimum of 2 months of interaction in their preschool classrooms. No significant differences between these two groups of children were found for developmental play age, play dimensions, or play categories. It was concluded that the exposure to positive experiences, such as peer interaction and preschool setting, may minimize the effects of poverty conditions on the play behavior of children.

Training in Analogical Reasoning Processes: Effects on Low Socioeconomic Status Preschool Children

AbstractIn this investigation we examined the effects of a training program on low socioeconomic status 4- and 5-year-olds’ solutions of geometric analogy problems. Twenty-six 4- and 5-year-old children were assigned to training, play, or control groups. The trained subjects participated in three consecutive sessions, which were based on Sternberg’s (1977) component processes underlying analogical reasoning. Instructional procedures followed an explicit instruction model that emphasized teacher explanation, student participation in problem solution, continual teacher modeling and feedback, and independent student practice. Analyses revealed significant performance gains for the trained group (compared with the play and control groups). Additional analyses of group verbal responses reflected the trained group’s increased attention to the higher order relations in the analogy problems following training.

Prevention and Community Compliance to Immunization Schedules

Summary Examples of Bloom's (1968) three methods of effecting primary prevention were utilized in a single community agency to increase community compliance to immunization regimens. A milestone approach which utilized written prompts to parents delivered by school age children and school-based clinics produced large increases in the number of children immunized, with very low cost. A community wide DHEW public service media campaign did not result in an appreciable increase in immunizations obtained, but a community wide measles epidemic and accompanying free clinics also publicized by the media resulted in large increases in the number of individuals immunized. Finally, telephone contact, but not mail contact, with parents of high risk, low socioeconomic status preschool children produced a moderate improvement in immunization status. The implications of each of these specific interventions are considered, including explicit and implicit costs and benefits for the community.