Nursery School Children Research Articles

Congenital Cytomegalovirus Infections Mother-Newborn Pair Study in Southern Ethiopia.

Introduction Congenital cytomegalovirus (cCMV) is a common cause of neurodevelopmental delays and sensorineural hearing loss of infants, yet the prevalence of cCMV and the associated factors in Ethiopia are not studied. Hence, this study was to assess the prevalence and associated factors of cCMV in Southern Ethiopia. Methodology. A mother-newborn pair cross-sectional study was conducted at Hawassa University Comprehensive and Specialized Hospital, Ethiopia. Newborn's saliva sample was tested for cCMV using Alethia CMV molecular assay. Mothers' serum was tested serologically for anti-CMV IgM and IgG by EUROIMMUN ELISA. Pregnant women responded to a questionnaire about their previous and current obstetric history and sociodemographic characteristics. The chi-square (χ2) test and independent-sample t-test were used to determine the associations between infections and possible risk factors; then, potential variables were screened for multivariable analysis. Results A total of 593 mother-newborn pairs were assessed. CMV was detected in 14 of 593 newborn saliva swabs (2.4%; 95% CI 1.2–3.7). As assessed by CMV IgM-positive results, maternal CMV seropositivity was 8.3% (49/593); thus, the rate of mother-to-child transmission of CMV was 28% (14/49) among CMV IgM-positive women. Congenital CMV infection was significantly associated with maternal exposure through nursery school children in the household, women sharing a feeding cup with children, and any of the detected curable STIs during pregnancy. Birth weight was negatively associated with CMV infection. Maternal age, gravidity, level of education, and sharing of children feeding utensils were not associated with cCMV infection. Conclusion A high rate of cCMV infection in the absence of awareness demands further in-depth investigation in Ethiopia. Thus, policymakers must take appropriate action through the antenatal care system for prevention strategies and put in place a constant health education and awareness creation of pregnant women about the causes of infection and hygienic measures.

Awareness of knowledge related to administering medication for children by mothers among pharmacists

Abstract Background Inappropriate medication use for children by caregivers such as mothers and nursery staff has been reported in Japan. The pharmacists have the responsibility to support adequate medication administration and should consult effectively. However, it is not clear how much pharmacists are aware of the knowledge of medication use by caregivers. This study aimed to examine the knowledge related to administering medication for children among mothers and nursery staff and to evaluate the awareness of that understanding among pharmacists. Methods Three online surveys involving 600 mothers living with nursery school children, 558 nursery staff at nursery schools, and 584 pharmacists in Japan were conducted separately (Cross-sectional data, in 2019/2021). Ten statements about the knowledge related to administering medication for children such as “You could give the medicine that has been prescribed before if similar symptoms are shown”, “You should give children the medicine using favorite beverages such as milk and juice, regardless of the kind of medicine” were shown and measured using a 5-point Likert scale. The answer: “disagree”, was considered as correct understanding. The pharmacists were asked how much they think mothers/nursery staff answered correctly using a 5-point Likert scale. Results The proportion of correct answers for ten statements by mothers and nursery staff were 35.8%-76.0% and 43.0%-69.9%, respectively. Most answers from pharmacists were in the category range of 40%-59%. Only 11.5%-33.0% of pharmacists chose the correct category in each of ten items with mothers' answers and 24.0%-83.4% of them had lower awareness. Conclusions Overall, the pharmacists were less likely to be aware of the mothers'/nursery staff members' knowledge related to administering medication. The pharmacists need to instruct mothers to administer medication after confirming their understanding at the pharmacy. Key messages The awareness of knowledge related to administering medication for children by mothers and nursery staff among pharmacists was lower than the answers. The pharmacists need to instruct mothers to administer medication at the pharmacy after confirming their understanding of medication use.

Reasons for SARS-CoV-2 infection in children and their role in the transmission of infection according to age: a case-control study

BackgroundThe locations where children get exposed to SARS-CoV-2 infection and their contribution in spreading the infection are still not fully understood. Aim of the article is to verify the most frequent reasons for SARS-CoV-2 infection in children and their role in the secondary transmission of the infection.MethodsA case-control study was performed in all SARS-CoV-2 positive children (n = 81) and an equal number of age- and sex- matched controls who were referred to the S. Camillo-Forlanini Pediatric Walk-in Center of Rome. The results of all SARS-CoV-2 nasopharyngeal swabs performed in children aged < 18 years from October 16 to December 19, 2020 were analyzed.ResultsSchool contacts were more frequent in controls than in cases (OR 0.49; 95% CI: 0.3–0.9), while household contacts were higher in cases (OR 5.09; 95% CI: 2.2–12.0). In both cases and controls, school contacts were significantly less frequent, while on the contrary household contacts seemed to be more frequent in nursery school children compared to primary school or middle/high school children. A multivariate logistic regression showed that the probability of being positive to SARS-CoV-2 was significantly lower in children who had school contacts or who had flu symptoms compared to children who had household contacts. Results showed a 30.6% secondary attack rate for household contacts.ConclusionIn our study population, the two most frequent reasons for SARS-CoV-2 infection were school and home contacts. The risk of being positive was 5 times lower in children who had school contacts than in children who had household contacts.

Roles of Children and Adolescents in COVID-19 Transmission in the Community: A Retrospective Analysis of Nationwide Data in Japan.

Background: Roles of children and adolescents in spreading coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the community is not fully understood.Methods: We analyzed the data of 7,758 children and adolescents with COVID-19 and characteristics of secondary transmission generated by these cases using case information published by local governments. Ratio of pediatric and adolescent cases generating secondary transmission was calculated for various social settings.Results: The incidence of COVID-19 was 24.8 cases per 105 population aged between 0 and 9 years, and 59.2 among those aged between 10 and 19 years, which was lower than that among individuals of all age groups (79.6 per 105 population) between January 15 and October 31, 2020. The proportion of cases generating secondary cases was 8.3% among infants and young children in nursery schools and kindergartens, 16% among children and adolescents attending primary schools, 34% among those attending junior high schools, 43% among those attending high schools, 31% among those attending professional training colleges, and 24% in those attending universities. Households were the most common setting for secondary transmission.Conclusion: The risk of generating secondary cases might be limited among pediatric and adolescent cases with COVID-19, especially in settings outside households. Effectiveness of traditional mitigation measures (e.g., school closures) to suppress COVID-19 transmissions should be carefully evaluated.

УПОТРЕБА НА РОДЕН ЕЗИК В ЧУЖДОЕЗИКОВОТО ВЗАИМОДЕЙСТВИЕ

The article offers a brief historical overview of some of the main methods in foreign language teaching and focuses on the use of the native language in their application. A modern study conducted among children from nursery schools in Bulgaria shows that when language education is carried out only in the target language, children also use only this language in their language interactions and vice versa. Some of the research findings are that 42.2 percent of the children whose teachers communicate with them in both languages, also make use of Bulgarian when trying to convey meanings and messages in English language. In general, children’s comprehension skills are better developed than their English speaking skills. In conclusion, the research results show that at the present stage, the offered foreign language education of children in nursery schools as entertaining as it may be, is not effective enough. Working methods and well-established approaches should be applied in early foreign language education of children in order to develop their skills to communicate in a new language.

REGIONAL CHANGE ANALYSIS AND ESTIMATION OF NURSERY SCHOOLS AND INFANTS NUMBER IN RURAL AREA (YAMAGUCHI PREFECTURE)

In this paper, we will track and discuss the changes in enrollment numbers of infants in nursery schools since 1960 in order to estimate future enrollment trends. First, the trajectory of enrollment numbers in Yamaguchi Prefecture is established. Second, an attempt is made to estimate future numbers of infants who will attend nursery school (and thus facility and capacity needs) by considering attendance trends as they relate to the number of infants in each household type. In addition, a consideration is made concerning whether policy effectively addresses supply and demand for childcare in the intermediate and mountainous areas of the region, where the population has decreased. Birthrate figures are added using the current facilities planning strategy of the district entities. The results are as follows: 1) In the whole prefecture, the number of nursery schools and their total capacity increased from 1960 to 1980. This was due to the increasing birthrate: a larger number of infants were born and needed childcare. From 1980 to 1995, as the birthrate decreased, the number of nursery schools and total capacity also declined. The number of children attending nursery school trended upward with the increase in double-income households. In rural areas, however, the downward trend continued due to the declining population and fewer households . This has been especially noticeable since 2000. 2) The results of these calculations show that the number of infants attending nursery school has been decreasing slightly since 2005, when there were 25,600 children. The number of infants needing childcare increases with the trend of double-income households. The results of our calculations cause us to estimate that 22,700 children will need childcare by 2035. The trend of childcare enrollment numbers also relates to the income levels of the households; those with lower employment income show a downward tendency in attendance, particularly in rural districts. The enrollment number of children in nursery schools in 2005 decreased to 6,400 and continues to decline. These results allow us to estimate 3,900 children attending nursery school by 2035. There is a larger decrease in the number of infants attending nursery school in rural areas than in urban areas. 3) Results showed that this estimation of nursery schools and their capacities was effective by defining the rate of change. There was a small decrease from 2015 (209 nursery schools for a capacity of 19,900). In 2035, those numbers will be slightly different (181 schools for a capacity of 18,300) in urban areas. On the other hand, the number of nursery schools and capacity decreased steeply from 2015 (when there were 92 nursery schools for a capacity of 5,490) to the estimated number in 2035 (60 nursery schools for a capacity of 3,630). Results show a downward trend in the rural districts in comparison to urban areas. Therefore, a realistic and effective method to ensure an adequate number of schools and capacity in the future can be created from tracking vacancy trends year by year in both the intermediate and mountainous areas.

The Importance of Puppet Plays to Children in Disaster Preparedness Programmes

In disaster preparedness programmes, puppet plays are an important therapeutic medium for children. Accordingly, this qualitative study was aimed to investigate the importance of puppet plays for children who were enrolled in the said programme. In-depth interviews were conducted on six respondents, two of whom were males included a school head, and a worker from the rehabilitation centre respectively. Meanwhile, the four remaining females included a teacher, two caretakers, and a disaster survivor among the disaster community. Following thematic analysis, it was found that the inclusion of puppet plays in a disaster preparedness programme not only educated nursery, kindergarten, and primary school children on disaster preparedness; they helped reduce the emotional impact caused by such untoward incidents as well. Hence, puppet plays can be useful in psychotherapy for children in such programmes.

Impactos da pandemia de covid-19 na educação infantil em São Gonçalo/RJ

O presente artigo busca problematizar e provocar reflexões acerca dos impactos da pandemia do coronavírus na Educação Infantil destinada às crianças pequenas das classes populares que vivem em periferias urbanas da cidade de São Gonçalo, na Região Metropolitana do Rio de Janeiro (RMRJ). Diante do cenário pandêmico e do isolamento social decretado, que implicou no fechamento de creches e pré-escolas, urge interrogar sobre a presença (in)visível de crianças pequenas em São Gonçalo. Do ponto de vista metodológico, trazemos a dúvida como método (GARCIA, 2009) a partir de questões que se intensificam num tempo de incertezas e rompimento de vínculos. Acreditamos que problematizar os impactos da pandemia na vida de crianças pequenas, nos remete ao desafio de investigar que potenciais conhecimentos decorrentes da pandemia do coronavírus podem mobilizar reflexões e práticas favoráveis à educação e ao cuidado das referidas crianças, trazendo questões e ponderações que possam contribuir para um melhor acolhimento e educação das crianças pequenas nas creches e pré-escolas públicas do município.

Acceptability of cereal-cricket porridge compared to cereal and cereal-milk- porridges among caregivers and nursery school children in Uasin Gishu, Kenya

Crickets have been promoted as a possible animal protein source in child feeding by enriching porridge with cricket powder due to its nutritional contribution and affordability. The aim of this study was to develop a nutrient-dense cereal- cricket porridge suitable for school feeding programmes in Kenya and determine its safety and acceptability in comparison to cereal and cereal-milk porridges. Porridge flours containing maize and millet (MM), maize, millet and milk powder (M10) or maize, millet and cricket powder (C5) were processed by extrusion cooking based on nutritional requirements of children aged 3–5 years. Microbial and aflatoxin safety was determined using standard methods. Caregivers (n = 73) evaluated the sensory attributes of the porridges using a seven-point hedonic scale while consumer acceptability by children (n = 138) was evaluated in a randomized parallel intervention study over four weeks. The children were served 300 ml of either MM, M10 or C5 porridge during school days for four weeks. Daily porridge consumption quantities were taken with consumption of >75% of the porridge being rated highly acceptable, 50–75% moderately acceptable and 75% of the serving, acceptance of MM increased from 98% in week 1 to 100% in week 4, M10 increased from 91% to 100% while C5 increased from 55% to 70% over the same period. Only 5% of the children recorded <50% acceptance of C5 porridge in the fourth week compared to 15% at week 1. The study shows that crickets can be used to develop nutritious, porridge with considerable acceptability compared to conventionally consumed porridges. The study also shows that children can develop a liking for the less familiar food with continued exposure over time.

Study on the Causes, Types, and Mechanisms of Childhood Injuries-Age and Disease Specificity.

Introduction: To clarify the causes, types, and mechanisms of injuries in children, we collected injury cases and analyzed their causes. Methods: During the 3-year period from 2013, we collected injury cases from three sources: nursery schools and kindergartens (A), emergency clinics of hospitals (B), and schools and a clinic for the developmentally disabled (C), using a format designed by Safe Kids Japan. Results: In all, 383 cases were collected during the 3-year period. The causes of the injuries in group A were crashes, falls, and so on. The types of injuries were cuts, bruises, fractures, injuries of teeth, etc. Dislocations and abrasions were prominent in nursery school children (aged less than 3 years) and bone fractures were prominent in kindergarten children aged more than 3 years.Group B consisted of 144 cases. The most common causes of injuries were falls, traffic accidents, and so on, and the types of injuries were fractures, abrasions, sprains, etc. The incidence of fractures was particularly high and 50% of the accidents were bicycle accidents.Group C consisted of 41 cases. Although the age distribution was similar to that of group B, the types of accidents and injuries were similar to those of group A.The Bodygraphic Injury Surveillance System (BISS) analysis showed that groups A and C were similar, that is, injuries occurred mainly to the head, whereas in group B, the extremities were mainly affected.Conclusions: We analyzed the causes, types, and mechanisms of childhood injuries. The BISS may help to clarify the mechanisms of injuries in childhood.

A longitudinal study on nursery school children's physical activity levels and physical ability.

A longitudinal study on nursery school children's physical activity levels and physical ability.

Daily physical activities of public nursery school children during winter: a case study of eight public schools in Ishikawa Prefecture

Daily physical activities of public nursery school children during winter: a case study of eight public schools in Ishikawa Prefecture

Rambling-trembling analysis of postural control in children aged 3-6 years diagnosed with developmental delay during infancy

BackgroundPreschool age is fundamental for the development of gross motor skills. Timely detection of postural stability deficits using objective methods would facilitate early implementation of therapeutic strategies. Research questionWhat are the age- and gender-related differences in postural control between preschool children diagnosed with developmental delay in their first year of life and children with typical development? MethodsThe study group consisted of 59 children diagnosed with developmental delay during infancy, who had received physiotherapy in the first year of their life for disorders of postural control and prone locomotion as well as abnormal distribution and magnitude of postural tone. The control group comprised 66 nursery school children with typical development and no history of postural control or movement deficits and no physiotherapy interventions in the first year of their life. The study and control groups were subdivided into four subgroups based on age (3–4 years, 5–6 years) and gender (boys, girls).The data were collected during quiet standing using a force plate. Three 30-second trials were recorded. Stabilographic recordings were analysed using the rambling-trembling approach. ResultsThree-way ANOVA revealed a gender effect on all measured variables (p < 0.05). The Tukey HSD (honest significant difference) post-hoc test showed that some of the values of sway range and mean velocity of COP, rambling and trembling in sagittal and frontal plane were significantly greater in control boys aged 3–4 years compared to other subgroups (p < 0.05). SignificanceLong-term postural control monitoring by a pediatrician and/or physiotherapist seems justified and not only in children with a history of infantile developmental delay but also in their healthy peers, especially boys.

Body mass index and blood pressure correlate in nursery school children in Port Harcourt, Nigeria

Introduction: Blood pressure (BP) is a vital indicator of health in children and adults. The relationship between body mass index (BMI) and BP is well established in children; and BMI has been shown to maintain an independent relationship with BP even after controlling for many other variables that characterize individuals. High BMI significantly increases the risk of hypertension. Epidemiological studies in various countries have been conducted to determine the relationship between BP and BMI in children; similar comparative studies are lacking in Nigeria, thus necessitating this study.Aim: To determine the relationship between BMI and BP in nursery pupils in Port Harcourt.Methods: Multi-staged sampling technique was used to select 710 nursery pupils from 13 schools. Biodata was obtained using a selfadministered(parent) questionnaire. Height and weight measurement were taken, and BMI calculated. BP was measured using a mercury sphygmomanometer; and relevant data analysis done.Result: There were 710 pupils 365 (51.4%) males and 345(48.6%) females. Mean systolic BP was 93.2 ± 10.6mmHg (70–130 mmHg); while mean diastolic BP was 58.8 ± 8.0mmHg(40 – 88.7 mmHg). Mean BMI was 15.0 ± 1.8 kg/m2(9.1 - 25.5 kg/m2). There is a positive linear relationship betweensystolic and diastolic BP and BMI (correlation coefficient r = 0.03). Obese pupils had significantly higher BP rates (25%) (X2= 15.35, p =0.002). BMI and height were significant predictors of diastolic BP (p&lt;0.001).Conclusion: There is a positive correlation between BMI and BP; and high BMI is an important predictor of high BP in nursery pupils in Nigeria.&#x0D; Keywords: Blood Pressure, BMI, Nursery pupils, Nigeria

Snacking in Japanese nursery school children aged 3-6 years: its characteristics and contribution to overall dietary intake.

This cross-sectional study evaluated the dietary characteristics of snacks, the contribution of snacks to daily nutrient intake and the association of energy intake (EI) from snacks with the prevalence of nutritional inadequacy in Japanese nursery school children. Foods and nutrients consumed in each eating occasion were assessed by 3-d dietary records. The prevalence of inadequate intake of twenty nutrients assessed by the age- and sex-specific reference values in the Japanese Dietary Reference Intakes was compared according to tertile categories of EI from snacks. A multi-regional dietary survey based on nursery schools in Japan. A total of 187 boys and 191 girls aged 3-6 years. EI from snacks accounted for 19·5 % (sd 6·9) of total daily EI. Confectionaries accounted for the largest part of EI from snacks (35·3 %), followed by milk (19·5 %). Relative to their energy contribution, snacks accounted for a small proportion for all nutrients examined, except for free sugar, calcium, SFA and riboflavin. Although a higher EI from snacks was associated with favourable profiles for intakes of calcium, iron, thiamine and riboflavin, excessive intakes of free sugar and Na were more prevalent among children with a higher EI from snacks. Although snacks are effective in meeting the requirement of some nutrients among Japanese nursery school children, snacks are generally not nutrient-dense and have an impact on excessive intake of some nutrients. There is hence room for improvement in food choices at snack time.

The Preventive Effect of Lactoferrin-Containing Yogurt on Gastroenteritis in Nursery School Children-Intervention Study for 15 Weeks.

To evaluate the effects of bovine lactoferrin (LF)-containing yogurt on gastroenteritis in nursery school children during the winter season, we conducted a randomized prospective study. A total of 1296 children were randomized into a group in which LF was provided in yogurt (LF group, n = 661) and a non-LF consumption group (control group, n = 635). The LF group was given LF-containing yogurt (100 mg/day) on all 5 weekdays for approximately 15 weeks, and the control group consumed fruit jelly instead of the yogurt. The final totals of 578 children as the LF group and 584 as the control group were analyzed. The total number of children who were absent from school due to vomiting was significantly lower in the LF group compared to the control, accounting for ≥3 days in any week: 10/234 (4.3%) vs. 49/584 (8.4%), respectively; p = 0.04. Regarding the relationship between absences due to vomiting and the consumption of the LF-containing yogurt, the adjusted odds ratio for absence due to vomiting was 2.48 (95% CI: 1.19–5.14) in the LF children who consumed LF-containing yogurt ≤2 days/week compared to the LF children who consumed the yogurt ≥ 3 days/week. The consumption of LF-containing yogurt (100 mg/day) for ≥3 days/week might help alleviate the symptom of vomiting in nursery school children during the winter.

Association Between Caregiver's Perception of "Good" Dietary Habits and Food Group Intake Among Preschool Children in Tokyo, Japan.

Given that parents are mainly responsible for a preschooler's dietary management, they need to understand a child's diet. However, few studies have examined the association between parental perception of a preschool child's “good” dietary habits and actual food intake. We conducted a cross-sectional study investigating whether a child's food intake would differ depending on the caregiver's perception of their child's dietary habits among 4-year-old nursery school children at Adachi City, Tokyo, Japan. Children's dietary data were collected using the brief-type self-administered diet history questionnaire for children Aged 3–6 Years (BDHQ3y), while caregivers' perceptions of their child's dietary habits (good, normal, and poor) were inquired (N = 136). The percentage of caregivers who perceived their child's dietary habit as good, normal, and poor was 41.2, 40.4, and 18.4%, respectively. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that children whose caregivers perceived their diet as poor showed lower intakes of vegetables [β = −48.7, 95% confidence interval (CI): −86.1 to −11.2], beans (β = −13.2, 95% CI: −26.1 to −0.3), and fish and shellfish (β = −9.2, 95% CI: −17.5 to −1.0) and higher intakes of fat and oil (β = 1.7, 95% CI: 0.4 to 3.1), confectionaries (β = 11.9, 95% CI: 3.6 to 20.3), and soft drinks (β = 31.2, 95% CI: 3.5 to 59.0) compared to children whose caregivers perceived their diet as good (all measures are in g/1,000 kcal per day). No significant difference was observed in other food groups, such as dairy products, an important source of protein and calcium for children. The current study may therefore guide future nutritional education programs for parents of preschool children.

Prevalence of Dental Caries in Deciduous Teeth and Associated Risk Factors among Nursery School Children in Sapporo City

Prevalence of Dental Caries in Deciduous Teeth and Associated Risk Factors among Nursery School Children in Sapporo City

Prevalence, incidence, clinical manifestations and factors associated with pediculosis capitis in nursery school children of a low-income area from Colombia

Objectives: epidemiology of pediculosis capitis was determined. The worldwide distributed ectoparasite, Pediculus humanus capitis, causes pediculosis capitis. Although risk factors for children are known, studies about its clinical description are rare. Materials and methods: cross-sectional descriptive study based on a sample (356 children) aged 1 to 5 of a low-income area from Popayán, Colombia. Two observations were practiced: at the beginning and at the end of the year 2017. Hair, scalp, lymphatic nodules and frontotemporal, parietal, occipital, nuchal and retroauricular cutaneous regions were examined. Insects were mechanically removed by wetting the hair and using lice combs. Nits, nymphs and adult lice were gathered and stored for future studies. Results: prevalence and incidence of pediculosis capitis were 5.1 % and 20.2 %, respectively. The associated variables were mainly infestation antecedent, long hair, female sex and eliminating with shampoo (95 % CI: 15-20). Clinical variables: presence of adenopathies, hair scalp inflammation and nuchal adenopathies (25-35 %); nits and lice localized in occipital region, hair scalp itching and retroauricular itching (20-25 %). Conclusions: pediculosis capitis affects those nursery children studied. It is important to know the variables associated for prevention, control and eradication of head lice infestation.&#x0D;

Determination of Anthropometric Indicators of 2 to 6 Years Old Kindergarten and Preschool Children in Isfahan City in 2017

Introduction: Creation of anthropometric database in any age group is one of the most important issues in designing and manufacturing of used equipment. The aim of this study was to determine the anthropometric characteristics of nurses of kindergartens and preschools in Isfahan in the age range of 2 to 6 years and to create an information reference.Materials and Methods: In this applied study, 700 healthy male and female boys were selected randomly from cluster sampling from nursery schoolchildren and preschools in Isfahan city. 36 anthropometric measurements of them were cross-sectional in the academic year 1396 to 1397. And indicators and statistical percentiles (5.50 and 95) were extracted.Results: Statistical indexes and percentiles were presented as an anthropometric database in 5 age groups and in two sex groups. Age and sex were influenced by most anthropometric variables and significant difference (P &lt;0.05). .Conclusion: The age and sex are two factors affecting anthropometric variables. Therefore, it is necessary to use the anterpometric database of the same age group and gender in the design of the equipment.