Child Practice Research Articles

Pharmaceutical providing of the treatment of children with epilepsy in Ukraine and abroad

The aim: to investigate the pharmaceutical providing for the treatment of epilepsy in children in Ukraine and abroad and to conduct a marketing analysis of the domestic market of antiepileptic drugs.
 Materials and methods: domestic and foreign Internet sources, medical and technological documents on a specific research topic, the regulatory and legal base of Ukraine, materials of the State Formulary of Medicines, the State Register of Medicines of Ukraine were the objects of the study. The methods of marketing analysis, graphic, documentary and analytical generalization were used.
 Results: a comparative analysis of clinical protocols (France, Great Britain and Ukraine) for the treatment of epilepsy in children showed that there are only 12 INNs out of 37 INNs in the country. The analysis of the formulary lists of drugs of Great Britain and Ukraine showed that the BNFC has 32 INNs, and the domestic - 10 INNs. As of October 2022, 287 names of antiepileptic drugs are registered in Ukraine, and 164 of them are allowed in children's practice. The main producers of antiepileptic drugs are India and Ukraine. Children's drugs forms are mainly represented by tablets and capsules - more than 90%. A comparison of the lists of drugs for the treatment of epilepsy from the National List of Essential Medicines of Ukraine, BNFC, WHO Model List of Essential Medicines and WHO Model List of Essential Medicines for Children showed that out of 37 INNs, only 11 INNs are listed in all documents.
 Conclusions: the results prove the need of improvement of pharmaceutical providing of epilepsy treatment in Ukraine. The nomenclature and variety of dosage forms for children's practice need to be expanded. In order to increase the economic availability of epilepsy treatment, it is advisable to update the National List of the main drugs of Ukraine and include new drugs in it, which will make it possible to purchase them at the expense of the State Budget of Ukraine

The impact of parent mediation on young children's home digital literacy practices and learning: A narrative review

AbstractBackgroundIn today's society, a growing body of literature attests to the importance of young children's early digital literacy skills in their home environments and how acquisition of these digital literacy skills relates to their future learning and digital literacy.ObjectivesResearch on young children's digital literacy practices at home was reviewed to explore the positive and negative influences on early learning. This is important due to the children's rapid uptake of online digital technologies over the past decade.MethodsPeer‐reviewed research articles on home digital literacy practices of children (aged 0–8 years old) published between 2010 and 2021 from four education databases were carefully selected based upon pre‐determined criteria and examined using content analysis.Results and ConclusionA high proportion of studies (29 of the 31; 93.5%) demonstrated significant benefits of young children gaining a range of skills, including digital operational, early literacy and language, socio‐emotional, and STEM, through the use of digital technologies at home. Five of the 31 (16.12%) studies reported negative effects of digital technologies in the home context, including distraction, aggressive behaviour, and false self‐confidence. Tablets and smartphone use gained greater momentum in the home context, especially between 2015 and 2021, and there was a positive shift in parental mediation, family involvement, and the children's home digital literacy practices.ImplicationsBy leveraging children's acquisition of digital literacy skills in the home and taking into account the sociocultural context, we can enhance young children's preparation for the future and provide opportunities for skill development across various learning domains.

Impact of the educational program "Igiene Insieme"in 1,991 Italian primary schools: student behavior andincidence of SARS-CoV-2.

To evaluate the impact of the health educational program "Igiene Insieme 2021/2022" on Italian primary school children's knowledge, attitudes and practice of hygiene and sanitation and to compare incidence of SARS-CoV-2 in schools participating the project with regional data of Lombardy and Apulia. Participating schools were provided with a hygiene kit containing educational material for teachers and sanitizing products for students. We conducted a pre-post evaluation administering a questionnaire before and after the intervention. In addition, we compared SARS-CoV-2 incidence of the participating primary schools (225 in Lombardy and 120 in Apulia) to regional-level data. We tested thedifferences between groups by using the Chi-squared test. Of 1,991 schools, 472 responded to both questionnaires for a total of 16,988 students. 17.3% of the students learned the importance of handwashing in preventing infections, 22.6% when to wash hands, 18.5% the existence of alternative solutions in absence of soap and water, 23.2% how to correctly wash hands. A lower incidence of SARS-CoV-2 infections was recorded in primary schools participating in the project as compared to the average regional incidence in Lombardy (9.6% vs.14.8%) and Apulia (10.7% vs.12.0%) for the same age group. We report an overall positive effect of health education interventions in primary schools. Although the limitations in the study design, our findings are important to inform planning, implementation and monitoring of health promotion campaigns in young generations so as to contribute to limit the risk of infection spread at the community level.

Re-imagining “care”: Reflections from digital fieldwork with slum-dwelling children in the Philippines

This work offers a reflection on children's caring practices as participants of digital fieldwork. I interrogate and illustrate how children might offer a different appreciation of care as a practice in digitally-mediated research. Examining digitally-mediated research with children participants reveals invisible caring expressions during the research process as doing digital fields is complex, overlooking various aspects of care throughout the research process. I propose a paucity to appreciate children's caring practices amidst the uncertainty of digital fieldwork and refresh our cherishing of such agency amidst thinking. Through video calls with slum-dwelling Filipino children (9–12 years old), I narrate how children demonstrated their versions of caring practices. Findings discuss: 1) The audio-visual experience and children's curiosity and criticisms; 2) Children's creative caring practices through symbolic expressions; and 3) negotiated transnational care through digitally-mediated research. This paper emphasises that caring through the digital platforms is a multi-layered practice that is not only demonstrated by adults but also enacted by children in their own means. This study invites further engagement on digital children's geographies in disentangling children's roles in digitally-mediated research.

Insulin resistance and its role in the pathogenesis of pre-diabetes development in obese adolescents

Background. The prevalence of childhood obesity has increased significantly over the past three decades worldwide, and in this regard, the frequency of diseases associated with obesity, including disorders of carbohydrate metabolism, has increased. The involvement of insulin resistance and insulin deficiency in the development of prediabetes in obesity has been established. However, the significance of each pathological mechanism in the development of prediabetes in childhood and adolescence has not been established. In this regard, in children's practice, there is no reliable data on methods of prevention and treatment of prediabetes in obesity.
 Aim. To study the role of insulin resistance in the development of prediabetes in obese adolescents.
 Materials and methods. The study involved 95 adolescents with obesity. Inclusion criteria: SDS BMI≥2.0, Tanner stage ≥II, age 18.0 years, exclusion criteria: diabetes mellitus. The sample was divided into prediabetics (n=40, mean age 14.0±1.53 years; SDS BMI 3.09±0.54, boys n=23) and non-prediabetics (n=55, mean age 14.6±1.67 years; SDS BMI 3.11±0.54; boys n=32). Both groups were matched on age, SDS BMI, sex (p=0.082, p=0.975, p=0.947, respectively). The research consisted of estimates of BMI, insulin, C-peptide, fasting venous blood glucose, HbA1c, cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein, high Density Lipoprotein, triglycerides, alanine aminotransferase, aspartat aminotransferase, HOMA-IR and TyG indices, results of oral glucose tolerance test at 0 and 2 hours after glucose load, ultrasound of the hepatobiliary system. Prediabetes in adolescents was diagnosed using American Diabetes Association criteria. Data was analyzed by using SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 26.0.
 Results. Prediabetes was diagnosed in 42.1% (40/95) of cases. There were statistically significant differences between the indices of groups with prediabetes and normal glucose metabolism: fasting plasma glucose – FPG (mean 5.63±0.49; 95% confidence interval – CI 5.48–5.79 vs 5.03±0.42; 4.92–5.15 mmol/L; p0.001); 2hPG (mean 7.04±0.93; 95% CI 6.74–7.34 vs 6.23±0.82; 6.01–6.46 mmol/l; p0.001); HbA1c (mean 5.5±0.31; 95% CI 5.39–5.59% vs 5.2±0.25; 5.15–5.29%; p0.001); cholesterol (4.47±0.73; 95% CI 4.23–4.72 vs 3.96±0.92; 3.73–4.24 mmol/l; p=0.004), low-density lipoprotein (2.89±0.96, 95% CI 2.55–3.20 vs 2.46±0.89, 2.21–2.71 mmol/l; p=0.036). There were no significant differences in fasting insulin, C-peptide, triglycerides, high density lipoprotein, aspartat aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, HOMA-IR index and TyG, were also no significant differences in the frequency of hepatic steatosis (47.5% vs 52.7%; p=0.532).
 Conclusion. Teenagers with obesity, with prediabetes, and without disorders of carbohydrate metabolism had a similar level of peripheral tissue sensitivity to the action of insulin. There are additional factors leading to the formation of prediabetes with obesity in the child population that have to be learned in future researches.

Factors Associated with Continued Breastfeeding Practice in Children Under 2 Years of Age Assisted by the Brazilian Conditional Cash Transfer Program, Bolsa Família

ABSTRACT Breastfeeding is the first guarantee of the human right to adequate food and the benefits of continued breastfeeding up to 2 years of age are well established. This cross-sectional study sought to explore the association between socioeconomic, demographic, and nutritional factors and the practice of continued breastfeeding in children aged 6 to 24 months assisted by the Brazilian conditional cash transfer program, Bolsa Família. Our findings emphasize the role of unfavorable socioeconomic conditions in diminishing the practice of continued breastfeeding. They also suggest the importance of policy-level actions to promote and support breastfeeding and to combat early ultra-processed foods consumption.

Philosophy outreach through teacher education

Building a university outreach programme is a complex task that requires coordination of funding, regulations, research aims, practical activities and recruitment strategies. This article describes the building of an outreach programme based on the Philosophy with Children practice and the associated changes in the programme’s research focus, practical activities and organisation over the first five years. Where did the initial inspiration come from, what form did it take eventually, and what have we learned? The article outlines our strategies and activities and I argue that two shifts in focus made the programme stronger in terms of impact and research. First, instead of sending university students into classrooms, we turned to teacher training programmes. Second, conversations with teachers indicated that the most interesting research questions were not about cognitive gains but about learning environments, teacher roles, facilitation techniques and other topics from educational studies. The article also assesses the strategies and research from the first six years of the programme and how they have demonstrated both challenges and opportunities in Philosophy with Children.

Integrating Rogoff's Sociocultural Development Theories for Effective Faith Transmission in Confessional Anglican Churches: A Case Study of Sydney Diocese

This article suggests an integration of Barbara Rogoff's sociocultural development theories into Christian faith transmission. Drawing from Confessional Anglican Churches in Sydney, it examines prevailing models of children's ministry influenced by Western schooling principles. Highlighting Rogoff's intent community participation and cultural learning theories, it argues for their applicability in fostering meaningful children's ministry practices among children and the alignment with Confessional Anglican theology. It concludes with suggestions for application in children's ministry practice.

Feeding Practices and Nutritional Status among Children Aged from Six to 23 Months in Western Province, Rwanda: A cross-sectional study

BackgroundRwandan children's nutritional status is characterized by higher undernutrition rates. Infant and young child feeding practices (IYCF) have a direct impact on how well-nourished youngsters under two years old are.ObjectivesThis study aimed to assess feeding practices and nutritional status among children aged six to 23 months in Nyabihu district.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted in 164 households having children aged six to 23 months in December 2020. A structured questionnaire was used to collect infants' and young children's feeding practices. Using SPSS version 20.0, data were entered and analysed. Binary logistic regression was utilized to identify association between feeding practices and nutritional status.ResultsBreastfeeding initiation within the first hour of life was 94.5%, and exclusive breastfeeding was 79.9%. Complementary foods were given timely to 73.2% of children, 47.6% had minimum meal frequency (MMF), 23.2% had minimum dietary diversity (MDD), and 15.9% were fed a minimally acceptable diet (MAD). However, 4.3% of children were wasted, 6.7% were underweight, and 23.2% were stunted. There was no significant association when variables were passed to a binary logistic regression-adjusted model.ConclusionComplementary feeding practices remain suboptimal. These practices should be improved to sustain children's nutritional status.Rwanda J Med Health Sci 2023;6(2):228-238

Functional constipation in preschool and school age children: ways to solve the problem

Functional constipation is a significant medical problem in pediatrics. Constipation often causes discomfort in children of any age and, in the absence of timely and effective treatment, can lead to chronic intoxication and the development of various complications, ultimately affecting the patient's quality of life. The article presents the definition of functional constipation in children over 4 years of age in accordance with the Rome IV Criteria (2016), etiology, pathophysiological mechanisms, clinic, diagnostic criteria and differential diagnosis of functional and organic constipation in preschool and school age children, possible complications. In accordance with the draft Consensus of the Society of Pediatric Gastroenterologists (2013), for a more objective assessment of the nature of the stool, the Bristol scale of stool forms is given. The physiology of the colon and the role of motor disorders in the occurrence of functional constipation are described. The physiology of the colon and the role of motor disorders in the occurrence of functional constipation are described. In accordance with the recommendations of the National School of Gastroenterology, the National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) in the UK, ESPGHAN and NASPGHAN, the basic principles of constipation therapy in preschool and school age children are given. The main groups of drugs that are used in the treatment of constipation in children of this age are described: stimulating and osmotic laxatives, prokinetics. Numerous foreign studies and clinical recommendations indicate that stimulants are effective and safe for the treatment of functional constipation, including in children's practice and are most in demand. The analysis of the use of one of the main drugs of the group of stimulating laxatives - sodium picosulfate in numerous international and Russian clinical studies is presented. The effectiveness and favorable safety profile of sodium picosulfate, the possibility of individual dose selection in connection with the liquid form of release are shown. A clinical example of the treatment of functional constipation in a 6-year-old child is given.

Mapping local policy approaches to child neglect assessment practice and use of tools in England

AbstractChild neglect has devastating enduring consequences for children and its identification and assessment remains challenging for practitioners. In England, assessment tools and standardised measures have been incorporated in welfare and safeguarding practice to help practitioners' critical observation and analysis and improve their assessments of risk. However, the picture regarding child neglect assessment practice trends on the ground remains unknown. This mapping exercise aimed to, firstly, provide an overview of the approaches to neglect practice and neglect assessment tools promoted by Local Safeguarding Children Partnerships (LSCPs) across England, and secondly, provide a brief examination of the types of tools advocated. An email survey was sent to the safeguarding leads or chairs of LSCPs in England (n = 121). Forty‐two valid responses were received (34.7%). Almost all participating LSCPs had a Neglect Strategy in place and recommended the use of tools and chronologies when working with neglect. Eighteen individual neglect tools were reported with only two of these having undergone psychometric testing. The findings affirm that the use of tools or instruments with low or no testing for psychometric properties continues to be widespread in children's social care and welfare practice in England. Implications and recommendations for practice, policy and future research are discussed.

Parental emotionality and power relations in heritage language maintenance: experiences of Chinese and African immigrant families in Australia.

Emotionality is increasingly given prominence in the field of language acquisition and socialization in migration contexts. This cross-sectional study explores the emotional experiences of Chinese and African immigrant families in their practices of maintaining their children's heritage languages. We used open-ended interviews, field notes from informal conversations and observations, photographic evidence of children's literacy practices, and language portrait (LP) descriptions, to collect data. Results from an ethnographic analysis of the data revealed a whole range of negative and positive parental emotions (e.g., anxiety, loss, shame vs. enjoyment, accomplishment, and pride), in the discourse of maintaining heritage and minority languages. We discuss the language emotions, whether positive or negative, in light of language ideologies, which specifically points to the significance of profit discourse in the formation of family language policies (FLPs). This materialistic valorization reveals the complexities of power relations between English and minority languages, between Chinese and African languages, and within various Chinese and African languages. Consequently, the distinct hierarchies between English and minority languages and the hidden layers within minority languages further legitimate diasporic ideologies of Chinese and African parents in terms of the emotionality associated with prioritizing, maintaining, and forgoing languages. These findings suggests that language emotionality is of vital importance to the psycho-social wellbeing of immigrant families and has practical implications for policymakers and heritage language research.

“‘You cannot come to this country’—that's what the government says sometimes, when you’re Brown”: African American children's critical literacies and emergent solidarity

Decades of research demonstrate that young children make meaning about race and racism. Yet there remains a dearth of scholarship about whether and how African American children are thinking across racial and ethnic difference to make sense of systemic inequities. Moreover, there are but a handful of scholars who have documented the ways that children and youth engage in acts of solidarity. Extending the growing body of literature that privileges young children of color's critical perspectives, this article examines African American first-graders’ sociopolitical awareness; in particular, it explores how they expressed their understanding that racial discrimination undergirded contemporary US immigration policies. These data reveal that the children possessed a capacity for demonstrating solidarity with other non-white people, in that they named and critiqued the marginalization experienced by immigrant communities of color. Drawing on Black feminist epistemologies, critical literacy, and critical consciousness, the author argues that the children's emergent solidarity can be understood through their three rhetorical moves: (1) interchanging Black and Brown people in name; (2) advancing a critical moral ideal by juxtaposing current and former political leaders; and (3) invoking knowledge of US history. Although popular media and political discourse seldom portray immigration as an issue that concerns Black communities in the US, African Americans have long understood that their own liberation is connected to that of other marginalized groups. As such, this article urges early childhood researchers to examine the nature of the questions being asked about young African American children's racial meaning-making practices and knowledges about belonging, equity, and inclusion within and outside schools.

0785 Sleep Habits and Sleep Hygiene Practices of South African Primary School-Aged Children: An Exploratory Study

Abstract Introduction Insufficient sleep adversely affects the physiological and psychological well-being of children and their families. Reports indicate that children's sleep health is declining; however, comparable data on the South African pediatric population is lacking. To this end, the current study aimed to explore the sleep quality and sleep hygiene practices of South African primary school-aged children. Methods The current study was exploratory and employed convenience sampling. Parents/legal guardians of South African children (6 – 11 years) attending primary school were recruited through social media platforms and asked to complete an online survey. The survey captured basic biographical information on their child's sleep habits (Children’s Sleep Health Questionnaire, CSHQ) and sleep hygiene practices (Children’s Sleep Hygiene Scale, CSHS). Survey responses were collected from May–August 2022. Results Of the 448 responses, 208 were included in the data analysis. Responses were received from eight South African provinces; the highest response was from the Western Cape (38.5%), followed by Gauteng (30.3%). The mean age of the study population was 8.0 ± 1.7 years (mean ± SD) and 51% were female. Of the children surveyed, 49.5% attended government schools. The mean parental report of sleep duration was 9.31 ± 0.45 hrs. The mean total sleep disturbance score based on the CSHQ was 47 ± 8.4, with 76% of children scoring greater than or equal to 41, indicating the presence of a possible sleep disturbance. The mean sleep hygiene index was 28.0 ± 3.4. Linear regression analysis revealed a significant correlation between total sleep disturbance and sleep hygiene scores (R2 = 0.32, p < 0.001); low sleep hygiene index scores were associated with a higher total sleep disturbance score. Multiple quantile regression models revealed that home-schooling and increased age were also significantly associated with sleep disturbance scores. Conclusion While the reported total sleep time for South African primary school-aged children was within the recommended range (9 – 11 hrs) for this age group, the overall presence of possible sleep disturbances was high, which could be attributed to poor sleep hygiene practices. Support (if any)

THE STUDY OF METROLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE OBTAINED SUBSTANCES OF FAT-SOLUBLE VITAMINS BY INTERLABORATORY COMPARISON TESTS

Relevance. This article discusses the possibility of using substances isolated from natural raw materials of fat-soluble vitamins retinol-palmitate (vitamin A), cholecalciferol (vitamin D3), tocopherol-acetet (vitamin E) in order to create domestic standard samples of approved type (SSS). The use of SSS in analytical practice, as well as in scientific research, makes it possible to ensure the accuracy and reliability of experimental results, to ensure the traceability of the result when performing analyses within the framework of repeatability and reproducibility (precision). The paper addresses issues related to the production and standardization of domestic pharmaceutical substances, as well as issues of standardization and conformity assessment of finished products of the pharmaceutical industry and other sectors of the national economy (food industry, agriculture, perfumery and cosmetics, the industry of production of goods for children's practice, etc.). The purpose of the work. To establish the quantitative content of fat-soluble vitamins A, D3, E, in the obtained substances claiming the status of SS with the approved type, as well as to determine their stability and uniformity by means of interlaboratory comparison tests (hereinafter referred to as ICT). Material and methods. The quantitative content of fat-soluble vitamins in the obtained substances was assessed by HPLC in 6 accredited analytical laboratories. The results were processed by evaluating the data provided for the presence of outliers and quasi-outliers using the Kohren, Grubbs and Mandel method. Results. The conducted studies under the comparison program showed that the results of the quantitative determination of the obtained vitamins are within the norms of the certified characteristic "Mass fraction of vitamin, %" in relation to the content of the determined characteristic in reference substances of imported production. Conclusions. As a result of the statistical data obtained, we have proved that the substances obtained from fat-soluble vitamins A, E, D3 comply with regulatory requirements based on the results of interlaboratory comparisons and can be recommended for the manufacture of domestic SS with the approval of their type, and it can also be assumed that the manufacturing processes of domestic and imported SS are harmonized. The quality of domestic SS is at an identical level with respect to foreign SS, but each is produced exclusively in the legal field of the manufacturer's state and is legitimate in its territory of application, which once again confirms the high need to create a domestic reference pharmaceutical base.

Assessing the effectiveness and the mechanisms of the Social-Emotional Prevention Program for Preschoolers: Findings from a universal school-based intervention

The Social-Emotional Prevention Program (SEP) encompasses a multifaceted approach (classroom curriculum, with teacher and parent training) intended to increase preschool children's social adjustment, as well as to reduce risk of emotional and behavioral problems. The present study's focus was on implementing the technology-assisted SEP version and was aimed at (a) investigating the program's effectiveness on children's social-emotional competencies and parental practices, as well as (b) testing the program's conceptual framework, with an emphasis on children's emotion regulation (ER) skills and parental emotion socialization practices as explanatory intervention mechanisms. A randomized-controlled trial (RCT) was conducted with five schools assigned to either the intervention or to a comparison condition (wait-list control). Structural equation models (SEM) and complier average causal effects (CACE) were conducted to evaluate SEP effectiveness on teacher- and parent-rated child outcomes (primary outcomes) and parenting behaviors (secondary outcomes). Findings from the present study indicated that (a) SEP fosters increased social-emotional competencies and increased use of adaptive ER strategies, with teacher and parent ratings converging to support these outcomes; (b) parental participation in the program increased the use of reappraisal and emotion coaching strategies; and (c) children's ER mediated the intervention's effect on social competence, whereas parental coaching and parental ER mediated SEP effects on children's ER. This study's findings suggest that the SEP may be an effective universal intervention for promoting preschoolers' social-emotional competence and may provide emerging evidence to support the program's hypothesized mechanisms of change.

The cultivation of children's musical creative practical competency: A literature review

In the last decade, children's practice competency has gained importance in the field of education, scholars agree that a diverse human practice is made up of many kinds of musical practices, encompassing the musical practitioner, the cultural contexts behind the music, and the process of creating the music. This study reviews the literature on the development of children's creative practice competency in music between 2012 and 2022, the literature was obtained from electronic databases such as Google Scholar using the keywords "creative practice", "music creativity", "practice competency", and "children". This research provided a comprehensive summary of the cultivation of children's musical creative practical competency. A comprehensive literature search and systematically reviewed of the literature for information on the practical content, multi-dimensional cultivation practice, and assessment methods for the development of children's creative competency. Scholars are paying more attention to the synthesis of art with other disciplines, and new research is focusing on the instrumental role of digital technology in the creative practice of music. Sociocultural elements and teamwork are being studied more in fostering creative practice competency in children. Assessment methods have also focused on the integrative and diverse nature of practice. Future research is recommended to explore more on how to foster students' social engagement and emotional experiences.

Behavioral and Environmental Risk Factors Associated with Primary School Children's Overweight and Obesity in Urban Indonesia.

To aid the design of nutrition interventions in low- and middle-income countries undergoing a nutrition transition, this study examined behavioral and environmental risk factors associated with childhood overweight and obesity in urban Indonesia. Body height and weight of children were measured to determine BMI-for-age Z-scores and childhood overweight and obesity status. A self-administered parental survey measured socioeconomic background, children's diet, physical activity, screen time, and parental practices. Logistic and quantile regression models were used to assess the association between risk factors and the BMI-for-age Z-score distribution. Public primary schools in Central Jakarta, sampled at random. Children (n=1,674) aged 6-13 years from 18 public primary schools. Among the children, 31.0% were overweight or obese. The prevalence of obesity was higher in boys (21.0%) than in girls (12.0%). Male gender and height (aOR=1.67; 95% CI 1.30, 2.14 and aOR=1.16; 95% CI 1.14, 1.18, respectively) increased the odds of being overweight or obese, while the odds reduced with every year of age (aOR=0.43; 95% CI 0.37, 0.50). Maternal education was positively associated with children's BMI at the median of the Z-score distribution (P=0.026). Dietary and physical activity risk scores were not associated with children's BMI at any quantile. The obesogenic home food environment score was significantly and positively associated with the BMI-for-age Z-score at the 75th and 90th percentiles (P=0.022 and 0.023, respectively). This study illustrated the demographic, behavioral, and environmental risk factors for overweight and obesity among primary school children in a middle-income country. To foster healthy behaviors in primary school children, parents need to ensure a positive home food environment. Future gender-responsive interventions should involve both parents and children, promote healthy diets and physical activity and improve food environments in homes and schools.

Advergames for children's health education and communication practices

PurposeAppropriate and deliberate use of drug prevention methods is the key to educating children about the dangers of addiction and the way of prevention. With the growing prevalence of digital games among youngsters, health education and communication among children can try adopting advergames on digital television instead of traditional media, which has also been supported by prior research. It is, therefore, this research attempts to apply digital games as a means of health promotion and carry drug prevention messages through digital gameplay. Based on behavioral models, this research investigated the communication design and effectiveness of advergames for children's health promotion.Design/methodology/approachTwo studies were conducted in this research. In Study 1, the research team investigated how public health message was assimilated into advergames, which affect the health behaviors of children, they are (1) Knowledge about Drug, (2) Attitude Toward Drug and (3) Perceived Severity toward Drug-abuse. In Study 2, this research investigated the effects of the advergames on children through a between-group experiment. A pre-test/post-test for the control group and experimental group with 180 primary school children in Hong Kong was conducted.FindingsThe finding showed the potential use of advergames in health communication among children. The result proved that the anti-drug advergame is a more successful intervention among the participating children in the experimental group than the control group. The result triggers further investigations in academic, professional and educational values for advergames design, health education and communication areas.Research limitations/implicationsBecause of the chosen small sampling locally in Hong Kong, the research results may lack generalizability for other countries or practices.Practical implicationsThe study evokes children's awareness of drug prevention, encourages their physical and emotional wellness, and finally advocates a healthy lifestyle for them, through the deployment of health game communication.Originality/valueDespite this research studied the use of advergames, instead of digital games in general, for health promotion and delivering drug prevention messages. The research design distinctively allowed the primary students to participate in the design of the advergames instead of being passive players and/or in the information delivery process. This approach is indeed a pioneer attempt in that limited practice has been found academically. The study expands academic and practical knowledge on health game communication.

The association of maternal smoking and other sociobehavioral factors with dental caries in toddlers: A cross-sectional study.

Severe early childhood caries (S-ECC) is a form of dental caries in toddlers, which can strongly affect general health and quality of life. Studies on factors that can contribute to the development of caries immediately after tooth eruption are sparse. The aim of this study was to assess the role of sociobehavioural factors and pre- and postnatal exposure to tobacco smoke in the aetiology of dental caries in children up to 3 years old. A cross-sectional study was conducted between 2011 and 2017 to assess oral health and teething in urban children 0-4 years of age. The number of teeth and surfaces with white spot lesions (d1,2), as well as decayed (d), missing (m), and filled (f) teeth classified according to ICDAS II was evaluated in a dental office setting. d1,2dmft and d1,2dmfs were calculated. Severe early childhood caries was diagnosed for d1,2dmfs > 0. Parents completed a self-administered questionnaire on socioeconomic factors, maternal health, course of pregnancy, child's perinatal parameters, hygiene and dietary practices, as well as maternal smoking during and after pregnancy. Data on children aged 12-36 months were collected and analysed statistically using the t-test, Spearman rank correlations and Poisson regression. Significance level was set at 0.05. Dental caries was found in 46% of 496 children aged 12-36 months. Mean d1,2dmft and d1,2dmfs were 2.62 ± 3.88 and 4.46 ± 8.42, respectively. Tobacco smoking during and after pregnancy was reported by 8.9% and 24.8% of women, respectively. Spearman's rank correlation analysis confirmed a relationship between S-ECC and parental education, maternal smoking, bottle feeding, avoiding springy foods, number of meals, and the age of tooth brushing initiation. Pre- and postnatal exposure to tobacco smoke increased the risk of S-ECC especially in children in age 19-24 months. Maternal smoking was correlated with the level of education and dietary practices. Our study confirmed that prenatal smoking is associated with increased risk of severe-early childhood caries (S-ECC) while the association with post-natal smoking is also evident, the increase in risk is not statistically clear. Both maternal smoking and the child's tooth decay are associated with poor parental education and other improper oral health behaviours. The positive impact of quitting smoking on the oral health in children should be part of anti-smoking advice.