National School Children Research Articles

Mental health among school children and adolescents in China: A comparison of one-child and multiple-children families from a nationwide survey

The influence of China’s “one-child” policy on the mental health of children and adolescents is still unclear. This study examined the associations between number of children and children’s mental health using data from the national school children and adolescents survey of China. Mental health was measured using the Achenbach’s Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL). Linear regression models were used to explore the relationship between number of children per family and children’s mental health. A total of 64,017 students were enrolled, with 68.60 % from one-child families. Compared with children from one-child families, those from multiple-children families had significantly higher scores on the total CBLC and each of its subscales (all P<0.001). Analyses suggested children from multiple-child families have a higher risk of mental health problems (total problems on the CBCL: adjusted B=2.217, 95 %CI=1.883–2.550, P<0.001). Regular mental health assessments should be implemented and effective interventions should be developed for those in need.

Operationalisation of the European Protocol for Autism Prevalence (EPAP) for Autism Spectrum Disorder Prevalence Measurement in Ireland.

The European Autism Information System project highlighted the lack of systematic and reliable data relating to the prevalence of autism spectrum disorders in Europe. A protocol for the study of ASD prevalence at European level was developed to facilitate a common format for screening and diagnosing children across the EU. This is the first study to operationalise and screen national school children for ASDs using this protocol. National school children 6-11years (N=7951) were screened males 54% (N=4268) females 46% (N=3683). Screening children for ASD implementing the EAIS protocol using the Social Communication Questionnaire (Rutter et al. in Social Communication Questionnaire (SCQ). Western Psychological Services, Los Angeles, ) as a first level screening instrument in a non-clinical setting of Irish national schools was demonstrated.

Effects of age, gender, and environmental exposures on exhaled nitric oxide level in healthy 12 to 18 years Qatari children

CONTEXT:Fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FENO) is a useful noninvasive diagnostic tool for asthma and some other pediatric respiratory diseases. Factors affecting FENO level are variable in different populations and studies.AIMS:To estimate the normal values of exhaled nitric oxide for Qataris 12 to 18 years of age. Other objectives were to measure the correlation of anthropometric and other potential factors with FENO levels.SETTINGS AND DESIGN:Community-based, cross-sectional study.METHODS:A total of 438 Qatari national school children from both genders were randomly recruited in cross-sectional study. Of them, 203 were non-atopic and hence included in the statistical analysis. Questionnaires including personal data, demographic data, and other factors that may affect FENO level were distributed.STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED:Comparison of means done using t-test. We performed Spearman's rho test to measure correlations. Data analysis was done using PASW 18.0 Release 18.0.0, 2009.RESULTS:The geometric mean of FENO levels for all subjects was 14.1 ppb (upper level CI 95% - 36.3 ppb). FENO was significantly higher in males (R2 = −0.254, P<0.0001) and was negatively correlated with increasing age for the whole study population (P=0.036). This decline was interrupted by a significant upraise at the age of 15 years (P=0.0462) which seems to be driven by the males (P=0.0244). FENO levels were lower in subjects exposed to cats (P=0.019). We could not find significant correlation between FENO and other factors studied.CONCLUSIONS:Estimated FENO level with 95% CI in Qatari children, which is probably close to those in other Gulf countries, will be helpful clinically. The lower level of FENO with female gender, increasing age, and exposure to cats needs to be further studied to establish the association and to understand the underlying mechanisms.

Prevalence of Smoking and Exposure to Secondhand Smoke among Qatari School Children: Results from the Pilot Phase of the National Epidemiological Study of Lung Health among Qatari National School Children

Abstract Secondhand exposure to tobacco smoke (SHS) has been proposed to potentially increase risk of acute respiratory infections, middle ear disease, exacerbated asthma and decreased lung function in children. The objectives of this study of Qatari schoolchildren were six-fold: to assess feasibility of a national study on athletic participation, healthy living and lung function; to provide estimates of height and weight; to estimate the prevalence of exposure to SHS; to assess potential bias of informant; to estimate prevalence of smoking; to compare results of reported exposure to SHS and reported smoking using levels of saliva cotinine (SC). This pilot phase of the National Epidemiological Study of Lung Health among Qatari Schoolchildren collected data from 321 boys and 413 girls enrolled in government schools in grades 7 to 12 using questionnaires administered by trained native Arabic research staff from October 2008 to April 2009. SC samples, height, weight and spirometry data were collected. Mean B...

Childhood obesity: the extent of the problem among 6-year-old Irish national school children

Childhood obesity is rapidly increasing worldwide. In Ireland, the number of overweight children has trebled over the last decade. The study aimed to provide an assessment of the prevalence of obesity of 6-year-old children in one region of Ireland. Following training, School Public Health Nurses included the measurement of height and weight as part of the annual 'senior infants' school health check for 5453 6-year-old children in 189 schools between 2004 and 2007. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated using the International Obesity Taskforce cut-off points using lmsGrowth (a Microsoft Excel add-in), which uses a child's exact age. Kendall's Tau b was used to determine the reliability of measurements. Prevalence trends were tested using multinomial logistic regression. Pearson's chi-squared test was utilized to assess the statistical significance of differences in BMI by gender, school year, and to compare with similar other Irish studies. Out of the 5453 children measured, 3493 were aged 6 years old. A further 11 were excluded because of incomplete data. Data were analysed for 3482 6-year-old children. Overall, 27% of 6-year-olds were classified as either overweight or obese. A significantly greater proportion of girls are overweight or obese compared with boys (31% compared with 23%). Gender differences have remained relatively stable from 2004-2007. Overall, there have been no significant changes in the level of obesity from 2004-2007. In addition, when comparing with other Irish studies that collected data for 2001/2, there are no significant differences in obesity levels. There is a clear need to urgently prioritize the effective management of obesity. Resourses should now be targeted towards ensuring government policies in Ireland and elsewhere are implemented.

Drug and solvent misuse in national school children in mid-west Ireland.

Dear Editor – Studies in Ireland, the UK, the rest of the EU, and further afield, indicate levels of drug misuse among children and adolescents that are a cause of serious concern. In 1997, the Mid-Western Health Board undertook a baseline study to examine health status and behaviours of adolescents in the region....

Children's depression, gender and age norms for an Irish national (primary) school population.

To provide normative data for older national (primary) school children, broken down by age and gender, for the Children's Depression Inventory-Short version (CDI-S) and revised norms for the Children's Depression Inventory-Parent version (CDI-P) and its subscales. Forty-three randomly selected national schools took part in this study. Participants were 1,255, fifth and sixth class, Irish national school children who completed the Children's Depression Inventory Short Form (CDI-S). In total 1,018 parents completed the corresponding parent form, the Children's Depression Inventory-Parent version (CDI-P). Norms for the CDI-S and the CDI-P subscales were produced. Revised norms for the CDI-P are proposed. Results revealed no significant age or gender difference in depressive symptomatology as measured by respondent's CDI-S and total CDI-P scores. Parent's ratings of their children's depression levels (CDI-P) and children's self-reported depression levels (CDI-S) were significantly correlated. The CDI-S and CDI-P displayed good internal reliability. Results indicate the utility of both the CDI-S and the CDI-P for assessing depressive symptoms in national school children in Ireland. This study confirms that national school children do display symptoms of depression. School based policies, materials and services supporting and promoting positive mental health should be developed, implemented and resourced.

Self-esteem in national school children in Ireland.

Self-esteem in national school children in Ireland.

Bullying and mental health in national school children.

Bullying and mental health in national school children.

Sociodemographic factors associated with nocturnal enuresis.

This study examined the school nursing/medical examination records of 6206 national school children for sociodemographic factors associated with reported nocturnal enuresis. A point prevalence of 10.7% (n = 666) for nocturnal enuresis was reported by parents during 1970-1993 in children aged 4-14 years. Although a downward linear trend (from 11.5% to 10.7%) was seen for the reported prevalence of nocturnal enuresis over the 23-year period, this trend was not statistically significant. Age, as expected, large family size and low ordinal position in the family were all statistically associated with reported nocturnal enuresis. Gender was statistically associated with reported nocturnal enuresis only in the 6-14 years age group. Paternal social class was not statistically associated with reported nocturnal enuresis, although 15% of children in families where the father was absent were reported enuretic compared with only 10% of children whose father was in social class 1. These findings contribute to an understanding of the relationship between sociodemographic factors and enuresis as reported at school medical examinations and have implications for the planning and development of health services at local levels.

Height, body weight, skinfold thickness and endurance fitness of children attending national schools in Ireland

Height, body weight, the thickness of triceps, biceps, subscapular and supra-iliac skinfolds and the six-minute run-walk test of aerobic endurance were measured on 1163 National school children between the ages of 7 and 13, who were attending rural or urban schools in counties Cork, Galway, Limerick, Mayo, Waterford and Wexford. Height, weight and the sum of triceps and subscapular skinfolds were compared with 11 to 13 year-olds from Northern Ireland, for whom the same data is available. Endurance scores were compared with international norms. Although of the same height as other European children, the subjects were heavier and had higher skinfold thicknesses. Aerobic endurance scores averaged about 80% of international norms.