Mother's Age Research Articles

Regional disparities in measles vaccination coverage and their associated factors: an ecological study in Japan.

The decline in measles vaccination coverage is a global concern. In Japan, coverage of the first-dose of measles vaccine, which had exceeded the target of 95.0% since fiscal year (FY) 2010, fell to 93.5% in FY 2021. Vaccination coverage increased to 95.4% in FY 2022 but varied by municipality. Few studies have focused on regional disparities in measles vaccination coverage. This study aimed to clarify the regional disparities in measles vaccination coverage by municipality in Japan and their associated factors. In this ecological study, the measles vaccination coverage in FY 2022; population density; area deprivation index (ADI, an indicator of socioeconomic status); proportion of foreign nationals, single-father households, single-mother households, and mothers aged ≥30 years; and number of medical facilities, pediatricians, and non-pediatric medical doctors in 1,698 municipalities were extracted from Japanese government statistics. Negative binomial regression was performed with the number of children vaccinated against measles as the dependent variable, number of children eligible for measles vaccination as the offset term, and other factors as independent variables. Vaccination coverage was less than 95.0% in 54.3% of municipalities. Vaccination coverage was significantly positively associated with population density and negatively associated with the proportion of single-father households, mothers aged ≥30 years, and the ADI (incidence rate ratio [IRR]: 1.004, 0.976, 0.999, 0.970, respectively). This study showed regional disparities in measles vaccination coverage in Japan. Single-father households, age of mothers, and socioeconomic status may be key factors when municipalities consider strategies to improve vaccination coverage.

A Longitudinal Study of Acute Diarrhoeal Diseases Among Children Under Five Years in an Urban Area of Goa.

Acute diarrhoeal diseases (ADD) account for a large number of preventable deaths in India, especially in children less than five years who are more at risk than adults with respect to the degree of dehydration and complications. (1) To measure the incidence of ADD among children under 5 years; (2) Determine risk factors associated among children; (3) Study treatment-seeking behaviour of their mothers. Community-based, prospective, longitudinal study conducted in an urban area of Goa. 250 children enrolled in the study with their mothers by stratified random sampling technique, conducted house-to-house visits every three months and mothers were interviewed with pre-tested semi-structured questionnaire. The duration of study was one year from January to December 2018. Data entered using EpiData Entry Client®, Analysed using SPSS® software version 22. Student's t-tests and Chi-square tests were used. The incidence of ADD was 0.124 episodes/child/year. Significant association was noted between ADD in children and certain socio-demographic factors like child's sex, birth order, birth weight, immunization status, malnutrition, mother's age group, mother's education, and mothers' hygiene practices. Efforts should be made to educate all mothers about the seeking timely treatment, awareness about home-based management and their types, awareness of ORS, zinc, importance of hygienic practices like hand washing for mother and child.

Breastfeeding Duration Reduces the Risk of Childhood Leukemia and Modifies the Risk of Developing Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders.

Objective: The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that the duration of breastfeeding in infancy reduces the risk of childhood leukemia or lymphoma, and modifies the risk of developing functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs). Subjects and Methods: This case-control study involved the recruitment of children with lymphoid malignancy and functional gastrointestinal symptoms with healthy children as controls. Focused questionnaires were used to collect data on breastfeeding history and other key risk factors. Univariate and multivariate analyses were undertaken. Results: Of the 334 children with lymphoid malignancy, 65% were male. The control group included 334 age- and sex-matched participants. Most (n = 189; 56.6%) of the children with leukemia were <10 years of age. Differences between cases and controls included the duration of breastfeeding (p < 0.0001), mean birthweight (p < 0.001), maternal age (p < 0.001), paternal age (p < 0.001), birth order (p < 0.001), mean number of children (p < 0.001), BMI percentile (p = 0.042), and maternal smoking (p = 0.012). Breastfeeding duration of up to 6 months' duration, when compared with feeding of longer than 6 months, was associated with increased odds ratios (OR) for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (OR = 3.43, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.37-4.98; p < 0.001), Hodgkin's lymphoma (OR = 1.58, 95% CI: 0.88-2.84, p = 0.120), Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (OR = 2.14, 95% CI: 1.25-3.65, p = 0.005), and overall (OR = 1.95, 95% CI: 1.40-2.71, p < 0.001). Cases also differed from controls with regard to FGIDs, such as stomach ache (p < 0.001), dyspepsia (p < 0.001), early satiety (p = 0.017), bowel satisfaction (p < 0.001), bloating (p < 0.001), nausea (p = 0.005), vomiting (p = 0.039), constipation (p = 0.003), diarrhea (p = 0.010), gastrointestinal canal congestion (p =0.039), muscle aches pains (p = 0.008), fecal incontinence (p = 0.021), and indigestion (p = 0.003). A multivariate stepwise regression analysis revealed that maternal smoking (p < 0.001), formula feeding (p < 0.001), duration of breastfeeding (p < 0.001), birth order (p = 0.002), mother's age (p = 0.004) and the child's birthweight (p = 0.009) were predictors for leukemia. Further analysis showed that dyspepsia (p < 0.001), gastrointestinal tract canal congestion (p < 0.001), constipation (p = 0.009), diarrhea (p = 0.013), bowel satisfaction (p = 0.021), bloating (p = 0.022), duration of breastfeeding (p < 0.001), and stomach ache (p = 0.025) were significant predictors for developing FGID symptoms after adjusting for age, gender, and other confounding variables. Conclusion: This study confirmed that breastfeeding has some effect on reducing possible risk of childhood lymphoma and leukemia and FGID symptoms compared with healthy control children.

Perception and Practice of Sub-Himalayan Region Mothers for Breastfeeding: A Cross-Sectional Survey

Abstract Background: Breast milk is an ideal food for neonates, which is also beneficial for mothers. Nowadays, modern mothers choose not to breastfeed their babies. The World Health Organization also recommends continuous breastfeeding of babies for up to 2 years. The present study focuses on assessing the perception and practice of mothers for exclusive breastfeeding in the sub-Himalayan region of India. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among postnatal mothers who were attending pediatric outpatient departments (OPDs) and immunization clinics at All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Rishikesh, India. Interview schedules were conducted to assess knowledge and skills, and data related to breastfeeding were collected from 210 mothers. Purposive sampling techniques were used to select each participant. Results: The mean age of mothers was 26.8 years, 56% had previous experience of breastfeeding, 76% had a cesarean delivery, and 70% had started breastfeeding within 1 h. More than half (53%) of the mothers had inadequate knowledge of breastfeeding. On the Iowa Scale, only 8% of mothers reported a very positive attitude toward breastfeeding. On the Bristol scale, 81% of mothers reported that they were following good breastfeeding practices. Conclusions: The study concludes that sub-Himalayan mothers have inadequate knowledge of breastfeeding, but their practices are still suboptimal. We recommend more public health awareness programs to promote breastfeeding in this region.

The Influence of Parenting Style and Stimulation on Social-Emotional Development: Study of Stunting and Not Stunting Toddlers in Bogor Regency

Stunting is a chronic nutritional problem that can disrupt children's growth and development, one of which is social-emotional development. This research generally aims to analyze the influence of parenting style and social-emotional stimulation on children's social-emotional development. The research design uses explanatory survey methods. The research involved 41 stunting toddlers and 41 non-stunting toddlers aged 2-3 years and their mothers as main caregivers who were selected purposively and lived in Cibodas Village, Rumpin District, Bogor Regency, West Java on July 2023. Data were processed and analyzed using Microsoft Excel 2016 software and IBM Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) Statistics 26 software. The results show that stunting toddlers are more commonly found in boys, families with low-educated mothers and fathers, and low incomes. Even so, in this study no significant different test results were found. The results of the correlation test show that age of father and mother is significantly positively related to authoritative parenting style. It can be interpreted that as father and mother get older, the authoritative parenting style is possibly applied more frequently. The results of the regression test show that authoritative parenting styles and social-emotional stimulation have a significant positive effect on social-emotional development. The application of good authoritative parenting style and social-emotional stimulation will improve social-emotional development in both stunting and non-stunting children.

Eating Behavior, Sleep Disorders and Digital Game Addiction in Children and Determination of Associated Factors by CHAID Analysis

Background: Healthy nutrition and good quality sleep are one of the most important factors for growth and development in a child. Digital game addiction may cause some problematic behaviors and affect children's nutrition and sleep. We aimed to investigate the relationship between digital game addiction, eating behavior, and sleep disorders in children. Methods: The study was conducted with 252 mothers with children between the ages of 4-7 years, selected by convenient sampling methods. The Digital Game Addiction Scale, Children's Eating Behavior Questionnaire and The Sleep Disturbance Scale for Children (SDSC) were used to collect data. The correlation coefficient and the decision tree CHAID algorithm were used in the data analysis. Results: Digital game addiction negatively affects children's eating behavior and sleep patterns. It was found that there was a mostly positive but weakly significant relationship between digital game addiction and children's eating behaviors (P&lt;.01; P&lt;.05) and a highly significant relationship was found between the sleep disorder scale sleep hyperhidrosis sub-dimension (P&lt;.05). While digital game addiction is affected by gender, the mother's education level, and eating behavior are affected by the mother's age, the parent's education level, and the child's gender (P&lt;.05). The child's age is the variable that affects the children's sleep disorder (P&lt;.05). Conclusion: Intervention programs for children and families can be created for the causes of digital game addiction, its effects on child development and the correct use of the digital world.

Rural versus urban variations of factors associated with early initiation of breastfeeding in Ethiopia

BackgroundEarly initiation of breastfeeding is an important strategy to reduce under-five mortality. Nevertheless, it remains under-practiced in developing countries. In Ethiopia, there were studies done to identify determinants of early initiation of breastfeeding. However, the variation of factors among rural versus urban residents has not been investigated. Therefore, the main objective of this study is to investigate the variation of factors associated with early initiation of breastfeeding among rural versus urban residences. MethodsThe 2016 Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey data was used to conduct the study. Mothers whose index child aged less than 24 months have participated in the study. We excluded mothers who had fetal death during birth and who didn't live with their child. Accordingly, a total of 3396 weighted samples of mothers from rural residences and 478 weighted samples of mothers from urban residences were included in the final analysis. A multivariable logistic regression analysis has been used to explore determinants of early initiation of breastfeeding. Finally, statistically significant associations have been declared by using AOR with a 95%CI at a p-value of <0.05. ResultsIn rural residences, age of mothers 15–24 years (AOR: 1.39, 95 % CI: 1.08, 1.79), mothers who are not currently working (AOR: 1.45, 95 % CI: 1.19, 1.78), large birth size (AOR: 1.49, 95 % CI: 1.17, 1.92), and giving birth at health facility (AOR: 1.25, 95 % CI: 1.01, 1.53) were factors associated with a higher odds of early initiation of breastfeeding. Whereas, in urban residences, being second to third birth order (AOR: 1.94, 95 % CI: 1.01, 3.75), skin-to-skin contact care (AOR: 2.58, 95 % CI: 1.44, 4.63) and antenatal care visit were factors associated with early initiation of breastfeeding. Regardless of residences, vaginal delivery (Rural AOR: 4.06, 95 % CI: 1.75, 9.44; Urban AOR: 2.52, 95 % CI: 1.15, 5.54) and involvement of mothers in health care decisions (Rural AOR: 1.52, 95 % CI: 1.25, 1.85; Urban AOR: 2.62, 95 % CI: 1.33, 5.17) were common determinants of early initiation of breastfeeding. ConclusionsThis study concludes that the factors associated with early initiation of breastfeeding are different among rural versus urban residences. Accordingly, maternal ages, maternal current working status, birth sizes, and place of delivery are identified as factors associated with early initiation of breastfeeding among rural residences. Whereas, antenatal care visits, skin-to-skin contact care, and birth order are identified as factors associated with early initiation of breastfeeding among urban residences. Regardless of residence, mode of delivery, and involvement of mothers in health care decisions are common determinants of early initiation of breastfeeding. Therefore, irrespective of the residence, special emphasis has to be given to newborns delivered by cesarean section to increase the rate of early initiation of breastfeeding.

The struggle that is phenylketonuria: What do the patients and caregivers suffer from.

To assess stress levels and life hardships of patients with phenylketonuria and their parents. Between January 2020 and June 2020, 156 patients with PKU and their parents who arrived for regular examinations were included. Parents were asked to complete the parenting stress index, Zarit Burden Scale, and the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), and children over the age of 11 were asked to fill the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and the SDQ. We found a significant negative correlation between the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale and age at diagnosis (r = -0.27, P = .035), mother's age (r = -0.33, P = .009), and father's age (r = -0.38, P = .004). There was a significant positive correlation between the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory and patient's age (r = 0.36, P = .006), mother's age (r = 0.29, P = .031) and father's age (r = 0.38, P = .024). In the child form of the SDQ, emotional problems were significantly positively correlated with serum phenylalanine (Phe) levels at diagnosis (r = 0.35, P = .036), total points were significantly positively correlated with serum Phe levels at clinical examination (r = -0.34, P = .004), and social problems were significantly negatively correlated with the father's age (r = -0.34, P = .047). We found a significant positive correlation between the Zarit Burden Scale and number of siblings (r = 0.195, P = .023). In the parent form of the SDQ, emotional problems were significantly positively correlated with patient age (r = 0.217, P = .032), peer problems were significantly positively correlated with age at diagnosis (r = 0.211, P = .037), behavioral problems (r = 0.203, P = .045), and attention deficit and hyperactivity (r = 0.203, P = .045) were significantly positively correlated with serum Phe levels at diagnosis. Phenylketonuria is difficult to cope with both for the patients and their parents because of diet obligation, high expenditures for the formulas required for the diet, requirement of regular clinical examinations, and possible development of mental disability and psychiatric disorders. Patients and their families should be psychologically evaluated and support should be provided if needed.

Determinants of stunting among under-five children: Evidence from Cambodian Demographic and Health Survey 2021-2022.

Epidemiological and nutritional modifications are causing an increase in stunting in many low- and middle-income countries (LMIC), which will eventually result in juvenile diseases and mortality. Therefore, this study aimed to identify the influential factors contributing to stunting among under-five children in Cambodia. A secondary dataset consisting of 3268 under-five children was extracted from the latest Cambodian Demographic and Health Survey (CDHS)-2021/2022 dataset. The Chi-square test and Boruta algorithm were used for covariate selection, and logistic regression approaches were used to determine the influence of demographic, socioeconomic and other factors on the presence of stunting. Findings revealed that about 21% of under-five children were stunted, and the prevalence of stunting was higher in rural areas than in urban areas. The prevalence of child stunting was lower in families with highly educated parents. A child whose father had a secondary education had 0.71 times lower (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 0.71, 95% CI: 0.520-0.969) chance of stunting than a child whose father had no education. Findings revealed that Ratnak Kiri, Mondul Kiri, Stung Treng, Pursat and Kampot had a greater prevalence of stunting than other places, ranging from 27.11% to 35.70%, whereas Banteay Meanchey, Phnom Penh and Kandal had the lowest rates, ranging from 12.80% to 16.00%. Results of the Boruta algorithm and logistic regression suggested that under-five stunting is significantly influenced by factors such as the child's age, size at birth, mother's age at first birth, mother's body mass index (BMI), father's educational status, cooking fuel, and wealth index. It is necessary to take initiatives for reducing the prevalence of stunted children prioritising the identified factors that ultimately help to reduce the burden of child health. The authors believed that the findings of this study will be helpful for policymakers in designing the appropriate policies and actions to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by reducing stunting among under-five children in Cambodia.

Treatment of hypertension during pregnancy: a cohort of pregnancy episodes from the SIDIAP database, Catalonia, Spain.

Hypertension during pregnancy is one of the most frequent causes of maternal and fetal morbimortality. Perinatal and maternal death and disability rates have decreased by 30%, but hypertension during pregnancy has increased by approximately 10% in the last 30years. This research aimed to describe the pharmacological treatment and pregnancy outcomes of pregnancies with hypertension. We carried out an observational cohort study from the Information System for the Development of Research in Primary Care (SIDIAP) database. Pregnancy episodes with hypertension (ICD-10 codes for hypertension, I10-I15 and O10-O16) were identified. Antihypertensives were classified according to the ATC WHO classification: β-blocking agents (BBs), calcium channel blockers (CCBs), agents acting on the renin-angiotensin system (RAS agents), diuretics, and antiadrenergic agents. Exposure was defined for hypertension in pregnancies with ≥2 prescriptions during the pregnancy episode. Descriptive statistics for diagnoses and treatments were calculated. In total, 4,839 pregnancies with hypertension diagnosis formed the study cohort. There were 1,944 (40.2%) pregnancies exposed to an antihypertensive medication. There were differences in mother's age, BMI, and alcohol intake between pregnancies exposed to antihypertensive medications and those not exposed. BBs were the most used (n = 1,160 pregnancy episodes; 59.7%), followed by RAS agents (n = 825, 42.4%), and CCBs were the least used (n = 347, 17.8%). Pregnancies involving hypertension were exposed to antihypertensive medications, mostly BBs. We conduct a study focused on RAS agent use during pregnancy and its outcomes in the offspring.

Factors Associated with Cesarean Section in Preterm Births at a Tertiary Hospital in Rasht, Iran

Background: Cesarean section (C-section) is increasing globally. Many studies have investigated factors associated with C-sections, but predictors of C-sections in preterm birth are not well documented. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate Factors associated with C-sections in preterm births at a Tertiary hospital in Rasht, Iran. Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted on all neonates born between 2017 and 2022. The data were collected from the medical records. Descriptive statistics, chi-square, and Fisher's exact test were performed. Multiple logistic regression was applied to identify factors associated with C-section. Results: The sample community included 1145 preterm neonates. Factors associated with C-section in preterm births included the mother's age (P &lt; 0.001, OR = 1.06), gestational age (P &lt; 0.001, OR = 1.24), neonate's weight (P = 0.042, OR = 0.62), infertility history, (P = 0.043, OR = 1.58), abortion history (P = 0.006, OR = 1.88), and iatrogenic preterm birth (P &lt; 0.001, OR = 4.99). Conclusions: Clinicians and policymakers should give special attention to these factors for C-sections in preterm births, especially iatrogenic preterm birth.

Families of Children with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities: Variables Associated with Family Quality of Life.

This study investigated the predictors that might influence the perception of families having a member with a disability regarding their quality of life (FQOL). The sample consisted of 320 family members from the Riyadh region of Saudi Arabia. The overall results showed that participants' satisfaction with FQOL was at a moderate level. Further results indicated that variables associated with severity, type of disability, and the mother's age and education were significant predictors of the FQOL. These results emphasize the importance of considering the variables that impact FQOL, such as the severity and type of disability, and mother's related variables, when directing support to families with a member with a disability. The recommendations and limitations of the study were discussed.

Interleukin-1β induces and accelerates human endometrial stromal cell senescence and impairs decidualization via the c-Jun N-terminal kinase pathway

As the mean age of first-time mothers increases in the industrialized world, inquiries into causes of human reproductive senescence have followed. Rates of ovulatory dysfunction and oocyte aneuploidy parallel chronological age, but poor reproductive outcomes in women older than 35 years are also attributed to endometrial senescence. The current studies, using primary human endometrial stromal cell (ESC) cultures as an in vitro model for endometrial aging, characterize the proinflammatory cytokine, IL-1β-mediated and passage number-dependent effects on ESC phenotype. ESC senescence was accelerated by incubation with IL-1β, which was monitored by RNA sequencing, ELISA, immunocytochemistry and Western blotting. Senescence associated secreted phenotype (SASP) proteins, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α, MMP3, CCL2, CCL5, and other senescence-associated biomarkers of DNA damage (p16, p21, HMGB1, phospho-γ-histone 2 A.X) were noted to increase directly in response to 0.1 nM IL-1β stimulation. Production of the corresponding SASP proteins increased further following extended cell passage. Using enzyme inhibitors and siRNA interference, these effects of IL-1β were found to be mediated via the c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) signaling pathway. Hormone-induced ESC decidualization, classical morphological and biochemical endocrine responses to estradiol, progesterone and cAMP stimulation (prolactin, IGFBP-1, IL-11 and VEGF), were attenuated pari passu with prolonged ESC passaging. The kinetics of differentiation responses varied in a biomarker-specific manner, with IGFBP-1 and VEGF secretion showing the largest and smallest reductions, with respect to cell passage number. ESC hormone responsiveness was most robust when limited to the first six cell passages. Hence, investigation of ESC cultures as a decidualization model should respect this limitation of cell aging. The results support the hypotheses that “inflammaging” contributes to endometrial senescence, disruption of decidualization and impairment of fecundity. IL-1β and the JNK signaling pathway are pathogenetic targets amenable to pharmacological correction or mitigation with the potential to reduce endometrial stromal senescence and enhance uterine receptivity.

The Effects of Mother Tree Size and Flowering Period on Salt Tolerance of &amp;lt;i&amp;gt;Tamarix Austromongolica&amp;lt;/i&amp;gt; Seeds in the Yellow River Delta

&amp;lt;i&amp;gt;Tamarix austromongolic&amp;lt;/i&amp;gt;a is a two-season flowering plant with a spring and summer flowering period and both flowering periods produce viable seeds, with flowering extending from mid-May to October and seed maturation from mid-June to October. In order to reveal the germination pattern of &amp;lt;i&amp;gt;T. austromongolica&amp;lt;/i&amp;gt; seeds in the Yellow River Delta region, this study investigated the salt tolerance of seeds of different age mother trees during the spring and summer flowering periods in the region. Spring and summer flowering seeds of different ground diameter mother trees in the &amp;lt;i&amp;gt;T. austromongolica&amp;lt;/i&amp;gt; forest in the region were collected and subjected to seed germination experiments under different concentrations of NaCl solution. The results showed that the diameter grade of the mother tree had a significant impact on seed germination, but had no significant effect on early seedling growth (except for the root length of offspring seedlings during the summer flowering period). As the diameter level of the mother tree increases, the germination rate, germination index, and vitality index of seeds during the spring flowering period first increase and then decrease, with the highest values observed at a ground diameter of 10.0-19.9cm. However, the above indicators of summer flowering seeds gradually decreased with the diameter increasing. There were significant differences in salt tolerance of seeds during different flowering periods. The germination rate and germination index of spring flowering seeds significantly decreased between 11‰ and 15‰, but the effect of salt concentration on summer flowering seed germination was not significant. For the early growth of seedlings, as the salt concentration increased, the root length and seedling height of seed offspring seedlings during spring and summer flowering periods decreased after being higher than 5‰. Compared with spring flowering seeds, summer flowering seeds had higher germination ability and seedling weight under salt stress. Therefore, the salt tolerance of the seeds of &amp;lt;i&amp;gt;T. austromongolica&amp;lt;/i&amp;gt; was determined by the size of the mother tree and the flowering period, which is an important strategy for its adaptation to the Yellow River Delta region.

Study on the correlation between endometriosis and adverse pregnancy outcomes

ObjectiveThis study aims to investigate the correlation between endometriosis (EMS) and adverse obstetric outcomes. MethodsIn this retrospective study 2,925 cesarean section cases were analyzed at the Women and Children’s Hospital of Ningbo University, Department of Obstetrics, between May 2019 and December 2023. The study included 1,363 women diagnosed with endometriosis during pregnancy at the time of surgery (study group) and 1,562 women without such a diagnosis (control group). The comparative assessment covered the age of first-time mothers, number of pregnancies and births, gestational age at delivery, incidence rates of assisted reproductive technology (ART), spontaneous abortion, preterm birth, placenta previa, placental adhesion, and postpartum hemorrhage. ResultsThe study group demonstrated a higher average age of first-time mothers, fewer pregnancies and births, and a significantly shorter gestational age at delivery (P < 0.05) compared to the control group. Incidences of primary infertility, spontaneous abortion, and ART utilization were higher in the study group. The occurrence of placenta previa, placental adhesion, and postpartum hemorrhage was also higher in the study group, indicating significant statistical differences (P < 0.05). No significant difference was observed in preterm birth rates between the groups (P > 0.05). ConclusionPregnancy in women with endometriosis is associated with a higher likelihood of adverse outcomes, therefore highlighting the need for increased clinical awareness.

Prevalence of Pregnancy Induced Hypertension in Women Attending Antenatal Clinic in a Tertiary Care Hospital in Maharashtra

Background- Blood pressure (BP) ≥140/90 mmHg, taken after a period of rest, on two occasions or ≥160/110 mmHg on one occasion in a previously normotensive woman is labeled as pregnancy-induced hypertension. [1,2] Pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH) is a pregnancy-specific condition that includes gestational hypertension, pre-eclampsia (PE), and eclampsia (E). It is linked to intrauterine death, abruptio placentae, maternal mortality, and intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) [3, 4]. Aim - to find the prevalence of pregnancy induced hypertension in women attending antenatal clinic in a tertiary care hospital. Materials and methods- Total 200 pregnant women with a gestational age of 20 weeks or greater visiting ANC clinic were included in the study during the period of 5 months (December 2023 to April 2024) at VVP rural hospital, Loni. Demographic details and blood pressure were collected. Data collected was analyzed using Microsoft Excel 2013 and pspp version 1.0.1. Results- Mean age of participant mothers was 23.2 years. Out of total 200 participants, 15 (7.5%) women presented with PIH (8, gestational hypertension and 5, pre-eclampsia and 2, eclampsia). Mean age of pregnant women presenting with PIH was 29 years as compared to the mean age of pregnant women without PIH which was 22 years. Out of 15 participants with PIH, 10 were primigravida, 8 and 3 were from lower and lower middle class respectively. Conclusion- PIH is still important problem and health education and awareness is still needed especially in rural communities.

Parental beliefs, attitudes, and practices on nutrition and children feeding: implications to preventive measures on children's obesity in Saudi Arabia.

Parents have a profound influence on their children's dietary habits. Parents' perspectives, attitudes, and behaviors regarding feeding their children a nutritious diet can have a significant impact on their children's health. The objective of this study was to examine the attitudes, beliefs, and feeding practices of parents in relation to nutrition for their children and to determine how these factors influence strategies for preventing obesity. A total of 446 Saudi mothers with children aged 2-12 years were recruited for this study. The Child Feeding Questionnaire (CFQ) was administered to mothers via an instant messaging application. Mothers' age showed a significant difference in perceived responsibility (p < 0.004), perceived parental weight (p = 0.000), perceived child's weight (p = 0.000), and concern about the child's weight (p = 0.000). Mothers with postgraduate degrees exhibited a significant difference in perceived child weight (p < 0.003); occupational status showed a significant difference in perceived parental weight (p < 0.004), perceived child weight (p < 0.001), and residence, particularly in Riyadh, which showed a significant difference in perceived parental weight (p < 0.026). There were also significant differences in body mass index (BMI) (p = 0.000) and perceived parental weight in relation to the mother's age. Mothers' age was significantly related to food restrictions (p = 0.000), pressure to eat (p = 0.000), and monitoring (p < 0.009). Mothers with only one child displayed significance in relation to pressure to eat (p < 0.019), while government-employee mothers showed a significant relationship with food restrictions (p < 0.005). There was a noteworthy association between the age of the mothers and perceived responsibility (p < 0.001), occupation (p < 0.22), residence (p = 0.000), and the mother's BMI (p = 0.000) with perceived parental weight. Finally, occupation (p < 0.006) was found to significantly influence food restriction, while the mother's age was significantly related to the pressure to eat (p < 0.002). Parental attitudes, practices, and beliefs regarding child feeding were strongly associated with maternal age, occupation, and BMI. Targeted interventions should be developed to assist mothers exhibiting these characteristics in establishing healthier and more effective feeding routines for their children. For example, interventions could be designed to educate parents on the latest findings regarding child-feeding habits and help them develop a greater sense of responsibility for their children's nutrition.

Clinicopathological features and prognosis for pregnancy-associated breast cancer: A matched case-control study.

e12573 Background: Pregnancy-Associated Breast Cancer (PABC) is defined as breast cancer diagnosed during pregnancy or within 1 year postpartum. Studies indicate that PABC tends to have poorer prognostic characteristics and often worse outcomes compared to non-PABC. The primary goal of this study is to examine disease characteristics associated with PABC versus non-PABC in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), where breast cancer is characterized by a younger age and more advanced stage compared to North America and Europe. Additionally, the UAE has a younger mean age for first-time mothers and a similar age for all mothers compared to North America and Europe. Methods: Patients with PABC were selected from BC cases of women ≤40 years treated at Tawam Hospital, the largest tertiary cancer center in the UAE between January 2003 – December 2020. Each PABC patient was matched to two non-PABC patients (controls) according to cancer stage, age, and year of diagnosis. The Fisher's exact and Kruskal-Wallis tests were used to compare both study groups. Results: 66 women with PABC were identified, with a median age at diagnosis of 33.0 (interquartile range [IQR]: 30.0-37.0) years. Most presented with stage II (45.5%) or stage III (39.4%) disease and underwent mastectomy and axillary lymph node dissection. Invasive ductal carcinoma was the most frequent histological type in both groups (86.4% for PABC and 85.6% for non-PABC). PABC was associated with higher grade 3 disease compared with non- PABC (53% vs 51.5% p= 0.009). More women with PABC received neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) and radiation therapy (RT) compared with non-PABC (48.5% vs 3%, p &lt;0.001 and 80.3% vs 65.9%, p= 0.046, respectively). There were no statistically significant differences with regards to tumor size, nodal involvement, underlying histologic subtype, ER/PR expression or HER-2 status, rates of breast-conserving surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy receipt between the two groups. The median progression-free survival (PFS) was 3.2 years (IQR: 1.9-7.1) in PABC and 3.4 years (IQR: 1.2-6.2) in non-PABC group (P=0.306). The median overall survival (OS) was 4.5 years in the PABC (IQR: 2.4-7.9) versus 4.5 years (IQR: 1.9-7.9) in the non-PABC group (P = 0.786). Conclusions: PABC in women ≤40 years appears to be associated with grade III tumors and NACT and RT receipt compared to non-PABC. However, there were no significant difference in PSF and OS between PABC and non-PABC. Further analysis is underway to evaluate the prognostic factors and their effect on survival.

Effect of Symptom Levels of Children's Food Allergy on Maternal Depression: A Cross-sectional and Cohort Study.

Maternal depression may have negative impacts on children's behavior and mental health. Childhood food allergy is a common health issue, yet its relationship with maternal depression remains incompletely understood. This study aimed to analyze the association between children's food allergy symptoms and maternal depression through cross-sectional and cohort studies. This study selected a total of 580 children with food allergy and their mothers who met the inclusion criteria in Ganzhou Women and Children's Health Care Hospital from April 2015 to April 2022, evaluated the symptom levels of children's food allergy according to the guidelines, assessed the depressive symptoms of mothers using self-rating depression scale (SDS), and analyzed the relationship between the symptom severity of children's food allergy and the risk of maternal depression; at the same time, one-year follow-up of mothers without depression was carried out to measure the incidence of depression to further explore this relationship. The 580 children with food allergies in the cross-sectional study consisted of 365 (62.93%) males and 215 (37.07%) females, aged (8.98 ± 2.30) years, with 298 (51.37%) experiencing Level-Ⅰ, and 282 (48.63%) experiencing Level-Ⅱ. A total of 56 (9.66%) mothers suffered from depression, aged (42.74 ± 5.42) years. Adjusting for confounders including mother's age, education level, marital status, family income, comorbidities, history of allergies, family history of food allergies, history of psychiatric disorders, current smoking status, current alcohol consumption, current regular exercise status, childhood food allergens and food allergy categorization, the mothers of children with child food allergy symptom Level-Ⅱ were found to have a higher risk of depression compared with mothers with child food allergy symptom Level-Ⅰ, odds ratio (OR) = 2.025 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.319-3.128, p = 0.001). In the one-year cohort study, 38 (7.25%) mothers had new-onset depressive symptoms. Mothers of children with a child food allergy symptom Level-Ⅱ had an OR = 2.165 (95% CI: 1.612-2.902, p < 0.001) for depressive symptoms compared to mothers with a child food allergy symptom Level-Ⅰ. Among children with food allergy symptom scores of Level-Ⅰ and Level-Ⅱ, higher levels were associated with a higher prevalence of depression in their mothers.

Contextualizing post day-one childhood immunization in-take drop-off rate in Nigeria: An assessment of working mothers in Ibadan

Background Contextualizing childhood immunization in the context of working mothers can boost coverage and completion. This study examines how informal working mothers perceive post-day-one routine immunization, and vaccines not covered under the National Program on Immunization (NPI), immunization schedules, timing, and duration. Methods The study was conducted in Ibadan, Nigeria and involved 1,044 quantitative and 73 qualitative samples of working nursing mothers. A mixed methods approach was used, including a semi-structured questionnaire to gather immunization experiences. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi-square test for proportions, and t-test for means (p&lt;0.05), while qualitative data were subjected to content analysis. Results The average age of mothers participating in this study was 31.39 years. The mean age of mothers at their first childbirth within the study group was 24.12 years. A significant majority of these mothers (95%) are married. Around three-quarters of women in this population ensured immediate immunization for their infants after birth, but less than a third achieved the complete age-specific vaccination series due to livelihood related causes, long waiting time spent in conventional immunization clinic. Around 40% of interviewed mothers vaccinated their children up to the third DPT dose, and just over 30% achieved full vaccination. Many informal working mothers, have concerning practice of adding 'supplements' to their children's immunization, driven by a lack of sufficient information about the vaccines. Some mothers also seemed unaware of these specialized vaccines. Conclusions Promoting complete immunization requires more than just raising awareness about childhood vaccinations but close and quick immunization service delivery is required. It is crucial for mothers to possess comprehensive knowledge about the mechanics and operation of immunization. Achieving this understanding could involve translating vaccine names and functions into indigenous terms, enhancing clarity and comprehension. Furthermore, a firm grasp of the immunization schedule significantly contributes to successful immunization completion.