Public Elementary School Children Research Articles

Anemia and Associated Factors among Public Elementary School Children in Asella Town, Southeast Ethiopia: A Facility-Based Cross-Sectional Study.

Anemia has a negative impact on school children, including poor physical growth and reduced mental performance. Children show poor attentiveness, behavior, and memory and reduced school performance. There is limited evidence of the magnitude of anemia and associated factors in school-age children in Ethiopia, including the study area. To assess the magnitude of anemia and associated factors among public elementary school children in Asella Town, Southeast Ethiopia, in 2022. A school-based cross-sectional study was conducted in Asella Town from April 5 to May 5, 2022. A total of 442 school children aged 7-14 years were included in the study using the multistage sampling method. Data were collected using a pretested and semistructured questionnaire through a face-to-face interview technique. The hemoglobin concentration was determined by using the HemoCue 301+ analyzer. Anthropometric data and stool examinations were collected from participants. Data were entered into EpiData version 4.6, transported, and analyzed by Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 26. Bivariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were carried out. Adjusted odds ratios along with their 95% confidence interval were used, and a p value of ≤0.05 was used for declaring statistical significance. A total of 435 students with a mean age and standard deviation of 10.77 ± 2.21 years participated in the study. The magnitude of anemia was 78 (17.9%), with a 95% CI (14.3, 21.47). Of the participants, 63 (14.5%) were mild anemic and 15 (3.4%) were moderately anemic. Children whose mothers have no formal education (AOR = 3.94, 95% CI: 1.89, 8.21), underweight children (AOR = 3.83, 95% CI: 1.98, 7.40), and parasites in their stool (AOR = 3.72, 95% CI: 1.50, 9.20) were significantly associated with anemia in school-age children. Anemia among school-age children was found to be a mild public health problem. Uneducated mothers, intestinal parasite infections, and underweight children were found to be determinants of anemia among school-age children. Health professionals should provide health education for mothers about child-feeding practices and the consumption of dietary sources of iron.

A population-based study of children suggests blunted morning cortisol rhythms are associated with alterations of the systemic inflammatory state

BackgroundIn children, digital media, lifestyle, and the COVID pandemic have impacted sunlight exposure, exercise, and diet patterns - cues that entrain the circadian clock. We hypothesized that low morning cortisol reflects a weak circadian clock, impacting the pro-inflammatory state. The primary objective was to test relationships between diurnal cortisol fluctuations and the inflammatory state in children as a means of providing indirect support for this hypothesis. MethodsThe Cardiovascular Health Intervention Program (CHIP) was a population-based cross-sectional and longitudinal study of circadian health in public elementary school children in Southern Maine, USA (recruitment period 2012–2017). Participants were 689 students in 4th grade (baseline; age=9.2 ± 0.4 years), and 647 students in 5th grade (age=10.5 ± 0.5 years). Nine salivary cortisol measures per child (2 awakening and 1 prior to bed for 3 sequential days) (n = 1336 child phenotype days; n = 7987 cortisol assays), 10 cytokines measured in morning and evening saliva samples (n = 202 child phenotype days), and lipids were measured. Clinical outcomes were blood pressure, weight and height (body mass index [BMI]; BMI = kg/m2), among others. FindingsUpon-waking cortisol levels were 0.28 ± 0.13 µg/dL, 30-minute post-waking 0.33 ± 0.15 µg/dL, and evening 0.08 ± 0.10 µg/dL. Salivary cytokine levels (n = 202) showed interleukins (IL) IL-1β and IL-8 were highest in early morning (upon awakening; AM), and IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) TNF-α highest before bed (PM) (IL-1β AM > PM [−4.02 fold; p < 0.001]; IL-8 AM > PM [−1.36 fold; p < 0.001]; IL-6 AM < PM [+1.49 fold; p < 0.001]; TNF-α AM < PM [+1.73 fold; p = 0.03]. Regression modeling showed high morning cortisol was associated with high morning IL-1β (p = 3.82 ×10−6), but low evening IL-1β (p = 6.27 ×10−4). Regression modeling of BMI z-score as the response variable showed the expected significant relationships to high density lipoprotein (HDL) (negative; p < 0.001), mean arterial pressure (positive; p < 0.001), and morning cortisol (negative; p = 0.01) but only weak relationships to either evening cortisol (p = 0.1) or cytokine (positive; p = 0.02; from the model with smallest Rsquared) levels. InterpretationWe provide preliminary data on diurnal fluctuations of inflammatory cytokines in saliva in a population-based cohort of children. Correlation of morning and evening cortisol levels with inflammatory cytokines in the same saliva samples showed that high morning cortisol was associated with high morning IL-1β and low evening IL-1β. Future studies may test the hypothesis that strong diurnal cycling of IL-1β may serve as a homeostatic mechanism keeping the immune system in check, and that low morning cortisol (possible circadian misalignment) may lead to less stringent control of inflammatory networks.

Sosialisasi perilaku hidup bersih dan sehat (PHBS) di lingkungan Sekolah Dasar Negeri 01 Bantar

Clean and healthy living behavior (PHBS) is a set of behaviors performed on an awareness basis, helping families, groups or communities to help themselves (independently) in the field of health and contribute to their health. Active role in achieving the common goal, health. The majority of children walk out from their house so when they are at school they have to wash their hands, but they are used to not washing their hands while poor sanitation and hygiene can increase the risk of poisoning or infection. The purpose of this community service activity is to increase the knowledge of Bantar 01 Public Elementary School children regarding the importance of PHBS and proper hand washing. The community service activity method was by lecturing and giving questionnaires. The result of the activity is an influence on the understanding of the material received based on gender.

Association between regular breakfast consumption and academic performance among 6th-grade elementary school male students in Makkah, Saudi Arabia

Objectives: To determine the association between regular breakfast consumption and academic performance among 6th-grade elementary school male students in Makkah, Saudi Arabia.&#x0D; Methods: Our cross-sectional study used a questionnaire for public and private elementary school children in Makkah, Saudi Arabia. Participants with known mental retardation, language barriers, and chronic diseases were excluded. The data analysis was performed using IBM SPSS V.26.&#x0D; Results: In our study, 412 students were included. Most students (74.3%) obtained a high final degree between 80 - 100%. Most students (67.2%) believed having breakfast helps in obtaining high degrees. In addition, those who never had breakfast had a lower academic degree (p-value &lt;0.001).&#x0D; Conclusion: The results of our study emphasized the significance of having breakfast on a daily basis for academic success, as students who reported consuming breakfast regularly were found to be more likely to achieve high academic scores.

WhatsApp Remote Reading Recovery: Using Mobile Technology to Promote Literacy during COVID-19

School closures because of the COVID-19 pandemic affected over a billion young people worldwide and presented a threat to long-term learning, particularly for public school students in low socioeconomic situations. This article offers quasi-experimental evidence on a low-cost strategy for distance learning applied in the Republic of Panama to minimize the negative consequences of the pandemic on public elementary school children’s reading levels. We conducted a 12-week intervention that utilized mobile phone technology and dissemination of reading material through WhatsApp, a cross-platform messaging freeware service, to maintain and improve children’s reading levels during the pandemic school shutdown. The objective was to determine the feasibility of using WhatsApp as a digital tool to facilitate education and inform evolving practice and policy responses. Results among 292 students between the second and sixth grades indicated overall mean gains of up to 10.3% in the number of words read per minute, with statistically significant improvements overall and higher gains among the second and third grades. In addition, the adoption rate was high, with a reported average of 84% completion of the daily readings. The results of this low-tech intervention have immediate and longer-term implications for using mobile technology as a supplemental or complementary learning tool, especially for developing regions and during school closures or school vacations.

Nuggets of lemuru (Sardinella Lemuru) fish durian seed flour to increase height of stunting in elementary school children

The prevalence of stunting school children in Indonesia, according to Riskesda 2010 is about 35%, 41.7% is found in rural areas, and 29.3% in urban areas. This study is clinical intervention, design of pre and post test with control group in public elementary school children 104255 Paluh Sibaji District of Pantai Labu - Deli Serdang District of North Sumatra Province for 4 weeks. A total samples of 36 children, consisting of a control and intervention group. The control group was given regular chicken nuggets, the intervention group was given nuggets of durian seed flour, each time giving nuggets 100 grams per day. Data analysis is used with t dependent and independent tests. The results of the study found that there was a significant increase in height z score (0.002) in the intervention group before and after the administration of nuggets of durian seed flour lemuru fish. There are difference significantly of height z score between control and intervention groups (0,000).

Comparison of emotional and social intelligence assessment of students in state and private school during the pandemic

This study aims to determine differences in emotional and social intelligence assessment between public and private school students using Android-based PKES (Penilaian Kecerdasan Emosional-Sosial or Social-Emotional Intelligence Assessment) application in strengthening student character during the pandemic. This survey study with a quantitative approach was analyzed using a comparative model. The subjects were 120 parents and students of public and private elementary schools in Yogyakarta chosen by purposive sampling. Data were collected through interviews, observations, and Likert scale tests with the PKES application and analyzed by t-test. It reveals that state elementary school students' emotional and social intelligence emphasizes the psychomotor aspect or good behavior with the habituation method. Meanwhile, private elementary school students emphasize the cognitive aspect of character knowledge through the lecture method. The affective aspect of social-emotional intelligence in public and private elementary schools is still low. Students have not been trained to feel the good character impact with various methods, so good behavior will not last until they are old because it has not been embedded in their hearts. Different tests with t-test obtained 0.378&gt;0.05, so the difference is insignificant. The emotional and social intelligence of public and private elementary school children during the pandemic is not much different. Because students study at home during the pandemic, their character is more influenced by parents than teachers. It implies that parents and teachers should more often train students to feel happy doing good deeds, so good character is embedded in the heart and lasts for a long time.

Blunted circadian cortisol in children is associated with poor cardiovascular health and may reflect circadian misalignment

ObjectivesCircadian cues in children (sunlight, exercise, diet patterns) may be associated with health outcomes. The primary objective was to assess associations of daily cortisol fluctuations (morning, night) with cardiovascular health outcomes. A secondary objective was to determine if 1-year longitudinal changes in circadian cortisol levels are associated with longitudinal changes in health outcomes. Study designThe Cardiovascular Health Intervention Program (CHIP) was a cross-sectional and longitudinal study of cardiovascular risk profiles in public elementary school children in Southern Maine. Participants were 689 students in 4th grade (baseline; age = 9.20 ± 0.41 years), and 647 students in 5th grade (age = 10.53 ± 0.52 years). Longitudinal data (4th and 5th grade) was available for 347 participants. Clinical outcomes were blood pressure, hip/waist ratios, body mass index, percent fat. Laboratory measures were fasting glucose, lipids, and salivary cortisol measures (morning and evening). ResultsLower first-in-morning diurnal cortisol levels were associated with increased blood pressure (β −0.23 ± 0.05; p < 0.001), increased body fat (β −0.22 ± 0.05; p < 0.001), and poor lipid profiles (β −0.15 ± 0.07; p < 0.05). Inclusion of night cortisol in the model (stress-related) improved associations of the model with bodyfat composition (morning β −0.27 ± 0.05; p < 0.001; night β +0.16 ± 0.06; p < 0.01). Adjustments for potential confounding variables improved associations of morning cortisol with lipids (β −0.19 ± 0.07; p < 0.01). Longitudinal analysis showed that lower morning diurnal cortisol in 4th grade was associated with increases in blood pressure a year later (β −0.18 ± 0.08; p = 0.017) after adjusting for confounding variables. ConclusionData presented suggest adding circadian misalignment (lower amplitude of first-in-morning cortisol) to existing models of metabolic syndrome in children. Further, circadian misalignment may be a factor contributing to high blood pressure.

Mother's Knowledge About Dental Health With Carrying Events In Children In Public Elementary School 1 Saleppa, Banggae District

Dental caries attacks all people, all ages, both men and women, all tribes, races and at all levels of social status. The World Health Organization (WHO) survey in 2013 said that as many as 87% of school-age children around the world and most adults had suffered from dental caries. According to the Basic Health Research (Riskesdas) in 2013, the prevalence of dental caries in children aged 5-9 years 28.9%, up from 2007 amounted to 21.6%. Dental and oral health services for elementary school children and the same level in Majene Regency were not optimally implemented in 2017 the percentage of students examined was 53.5% and those who received care were only 20% of the number that should be treated. This study aims to identify the relationship of maternal knowledge about dental health with caries incidence in children. This research uses observational research with cross sectional approach that connects independent variables with dependent variables at the same time. The total population in this study was 65 parents (mothers) students, and the sampling technique used was total sampling. Research Results From the Chi Squaredi test results obtained value ρ = 0,000 where the value of ρ is less than 0.05 which means there is a meaningful relationship between the knowledge of mother with caries incidence in children. It is suggested to mothers to seek more information about maintaining oral health and giving good food for dental health and it is hoped that the school will organize a School Dental Health Effort to pay more attention to the oral health of children

Government Primary School Services In Indonesia-Malaysia’s Border Area of Entikong

Primary School is part of the 9-year compulsory education policy for children aged 6-7 years, during their 6 years of learning. The longest study time between the levels of education in Indonesia. The earlier statement means that Primary School Education is very important for the basic’s children development in Emotional Quation , Intelligence Quation, Adversity Quation, Spiritual Quation and Creativity Quation consecutively . Moreover, Entikong District - Sanggau Regency, West Kalimantan Province is one of the Priority Locations in the border region. The said service to public elementary school children must be in a good quality. Meanwhile the Services in SD Negeri 05 Suruh Tembawang Entikong are still far from expectations. This study aims to analyze the services to Suruh Tembawang Public Elementary School 05 Entikong District by the Sanggau Regional Government. The analysis used taken from Parasuraman opinions with the following indicators: Tangibles, Reliability, Responsiveness, Assurance and Emphaty. The Research Approach uses a Qualitative Approach and the Research Method is Descriptive. Data Collection Techniques: Interviews, Focus Group Discussion and Documentation. Informant Selection Techniques: Purposive. Data Analysis with Miles and Huberman. Data Validity Test with Triangulation. Discussion: Primary Schools in Priority Locations do not receive much attention, are very detrimental to society. In fact, they can reach other countries quickly as seen from their eyes. In terms of Indonesia's sense of nationality, it is quite vulnerable, while in education context, will get worse, if the conditions are not promptly corrected. Research results: Tangibles: It is difficult to access connecting bridge facilities with sub-districts, classrooms are damaged, there is no official residence, lack of teaching aids, computers are not available; Reliability: teaching is less reliable for teacher, responsiveness: unresponsive, Assurance: remains trusted by the community; Emphaty: teachers in high students as well as people empathize with teachers. Conclusion: There are lack of quality services for facilities and infrastructure in SD Negeri 05 Suruh Tembawang and not in accordance with what are needed. Recommendation: Local government should increase cooperation between SKPD (Dinas PU and Dinas Pendidikan Kebudayaan); Exploring the company's CSR; Inviting Universities for Community Service Program Internships.

The education of migrant children in China's urban public elementary schools: Evidence from Shanghai

The education of migrant children critically determines the level of human capital of China's future labor force. The majority of migrant children in Chinese cities now study in public schools. This paper uses self-collected data in Shanghai in 2010 and 2012 to evaluate the performance of migrant students in public elementary schools. We find that across schools, migrant students with better family background enter into schools with higher quality. Within the same schools, migrant students perform as well as their local counterparts, in both cognitive and non-cognitive dimensions. Our results suggest that there is no evidence of within-school discrimination against migrant students within public schools, and the key to improving their education is access to better schools.

Perilaku sarapan pagi kaitannya dengan status gizi dan anemia pada anak sekolah dasar

Background : The children are a nation's investment, because they are the next generation of the nation. The quality of the nation in the future is determined by the quality of children today. Indonesia and other developing countries in general are still dominated by four major nutritional problemsObjective : This research aimed to analyze prevalence of anemia, breakfast habits, nutritional status in school children and compare two childhood education centers located in public and private school in Kupang City, East Nusa TenggaraMethods : This research used 645 were included in this cross sectional study and was done in March until May 2017. The subjects were fourth, fifth and sixth grade of elementary of public school (SD bertingkat Kelapa Lima 1, SD Inpres Bakunase) and private school (SD Asumta, SD GMIT Naioni, SDI Maulafa dan SDK Don Bosco 3). Breakfast habits data were collected by filling questionnaire; nutritional status was estimated by BMI/Age , Height/Age which weight and height of subjects were measured directly; and anemia status was estimated by hemoglobin test/hemocue. The frequency of breakfast is determined based on always breakfast and no breakfast and the sample usually consume breakfast before 7 am.Result : Compare two childhood education centre was Significant differences between public and private schools were found in nutritional status variables with height for age indicators and on breakfast habits. The prevalence of anemia in elementary school children in Kupang by 27% which is measured by blood hemoglobin levels. Contribution of great family, gender and age in students were higher with regular breakfast. The difference in the variable nutritional status with height for age indicator with a value of p = 0.034 and breakfast habits with a value of p = 0.002Conclusion : The differences in breakfast habits in public and private elementary school children are thought by the role of teachers in schools and breakfast habits can help improve nutritional status and blood hemoglobin levels

Household Food Insecurity and Psychosocial Dysfunction in Ecuadorian Elementary Schoolchildren.

Household food insecurity (HFI) is a major global public health and pediatric concern due to its reported association with adverse child nutrition, growth, and health outcomes. Psychosocial dysfunction is a major cause of childhood disability. US and Canadian studies have linked HFI to poorer overall psychosocial dysfunction and specific dysfunction types in school-aged children, i.e., internalizing, externalizing, and attention behaviors. However, it is uncertain whether prior findings are generalizable to low- and middle-income country (LMIC) settings. We conducted a cross-sectional study to explore the association of HFI with psychosocial dysfunction in 6-12-year-old public elementary schoolchildren (n=279) residing in low-income neighborhoods in Quito, Ecuador. Maternal caregivers were interviewed to obtain data on child psychosocial dysfunction (Pediatric Symptom Checklist, PSC), food security (Household Food Security Survey Module), and maternal mental health (SF-36 Mental Composite Summary). Capillary blood samples were obtained from child participants to measure hemoglobin levels. The data were analyzed using general linear models with adjustment for covariates. The results revealed that HFI was associated with significantly higher overall average PSC scores (p=0.002) and with internalizing (p=0.001) and externalizing (p=0.03) but not attention subscale scores. However, anemia was independently associated with PSC attention subscale scores (p=0.015). This is the first study to report on the relationship between HFI and psychosocial dysfunction in school-aged children in a LMIC setting. It highlights the importance of improving policies and programs protecting vulnerable households from HFI. In addition to improving health and nutrition, such improvements could potentially reduce the burden of child psychosocial dysfunction.

Relationship between classroom social goal structures, gender, and social outcomes in Japanese elementary school children

This study examines the interaction between gender and classroom social goal structures and the impact they have on children's prosocial behaviors and classroom adjustment. Specifically, classroom social goal structures (consisting of prosocial and compliance goal structure) are the degree to which focal social goals are presented in classrooms. Numerous previous studies have tested the gender differences in social outcomes; however, the results of such past studies have been mixed, as some detected gender differences while others did not. This suggests the existence of moderator variables. Consequently, in this research, we focused on classroom-level moderators in the relationship between gender and social outcomes. We analysed a sample of 3,609 Japanese public elementary school children from 114 classrooms, and we detected the presence of cross-level interactions and found that classroom social goal structures can promote or degrade boys' social outcomes.

Musculoskeletal Fitness Measures Are Not Created Equal: An Assessment of School Children in Corpus Christi, Texas.

This study investigated current obesity prevalence and associations between musculoskeletal fitness test scores and the odds of being underweight, overweight, or obese compared to having a healthy weight in elementary school children in Corpus Christi, Texas. The sample analyzed consisted of 492 public elementary school children between kindergarten and fifth grade. Their ages ranged from 5 to 11 years. Trunk lift, 90° push-up, curl-up, and back saver sit and reach tests were administered. Weight status was determined using BMI scores and the CDC growth charts. Obesity prevalence remains high among elementary school-aged children in Corpus Christi, Texas. Higher 90° push-up test scores were most consistently associated with decreased odds of being obese as compared to being overweight and having healthy weight except in kindergarten. Conversely, higher trunk lift test scores were associated with increased odds of being obese in second and fourth grades. When children achieved the minimum score to be classified in the Healthy Fitness Zone, those with healthy weight had similarly low musculoskeletal fitness (i.e., abdominal strength and endurance, hamstring flexibility, and trunk extensor strength and flexibility) as peers with overweight and obesity, especially in the lower grades. It was concluded that increased obesity prevalence in higher grades may be precipitated (at least in part) by low musculoskeletal fitness in the lower grades, especially kindergarten. Given previous associations in the literature, low musculoskeletal fitness may be symptomatic of poor motor skill competence in the current sample. These findings suggest a need for early and focused school-based interventions that leverage both known and novel strategies to combat pediatric obesity in Corpus Christi.

Comparison of Efficacy and Side Effect Between Albendazole, Albendazole-Levamisole and Mebendazole-Levamisole Againts Soil-Transmitted Helminths Infection at a Public Elementary School-Age Children on The Deli Serdang Regency

Intestinal worm infection in particular of Soil Transmitted Helminth is still a global problem with high prevalence on the tropic and subtropic regions including Indonesia especially in the rural community. Double Blind Randomized Trial that started from April to June 2015 in which the samples are collected from public elementary school children on the Deli Serdang Regency to compare the effectivity and side effect of STH infection treatment by using Albendazole 400 mg, Albendazole 400 mg-Levamisol 50 mg/100 mg, Mebendazole 500 mg-Levamisol 50 mg/100 mg. The samples of Albendazole, Albendazole-Levamisol and Mebendazole-Levamisol groups consist of 60 children in each group in which the ones that have STH infection are Ascariasis 92 children 51.11%, Trichuriasis 37 children 20.55%, and mixed infection 51 children 28.33%. In this research, researcher doesn’t found hookworm infection in any of the groups. From the result ofstool examination, researcher found 100% of cure rate for A. lumbricoides infection on all groups, cure rate of T. trichiura infection 66.7%, 94.7%, 92.3% for each Albendazole, Albendazole-Levamisol, and Mebendazole-Levamisol groups meanwhile cure rate for mixed infection are 28.6%, 85.7%, and 66.7% for each Albendazole, Albendazole-Levamisoland Mebendazole- Levamisol groups. For mild T.trichiura infection treatment with singledose of Albendazole-Levamisolgroup is better than both of Albendazole and Mebendazole- Levamisole groups (p=0.01). In this research, researcher found nausea and diarrhea as treatment of side effect and no signifi cant difference of side effect in all groups of treatment.

Sex differences in FITNESSGRAM® health risk based on aerobic capacity and body composition among urban public elementary school children.

Children residing in urban, low-resource neighborhoods may be at increased risk for poor aerobic fitness and obesity. The objective of this collaborative project with an urban public school district was to quantify the combination of poor aerobic capacity and high percent body fat using FITNESSGRAM® Healthy Fitness Zone (HFZ) standards among urban, predominantly Black, public elementary school boys and girls. Measurements of aerobic capacity with the 20-m Progressive Aerobic Cardiovascular Endurance Run (PACER) test and body composition by bioelectrical impedance analysis were completed on 1,775 fourth and fifth grade students in 45 public elementary schools in St. Louis, Missouri during three school years (2012-2015). Our findings reveal that a higher proportion of girls than boys failed to meet the HFZ for aerobic capacity (70.1% vs. 42.3%), percent body fat (53.0% vs. 29.9%), and the combination of aerobic capacity and percent body fat (44.4% vs. 21.8%, all P<0.001). These results highlight the importance of addressing modifiable, lifestyle-related health risks among urban minority children, particularly girls.

Screening for musculoskeletal problems in Japanese schoolchildren: a cross-sectional study nested in a cohort

ObjectivesTo clarify the frequency of musculoskeletal problems in public elementary and junior high school children and to determine the advantages and problems of musculoskeletal examinations. Study designSchool-based cross-sectional study nested in a cohort. MethodsWe examined 41,376 public elementary and junior high school children (aged 6–15 years) in Miyazaki, Japan, from 2008 to 2014. Participation was voluntary. Participants received an in-school primary musculoskeletal examination (clinical examination with check items and a questionnaire) and a secondary examination at an orthopaedic outpatient clinic as indicated. Estimated prevalence rates for musculoskeletal problems were calculated from the results of both examinations. ResultsThe total estimated prevalence of musculoskeletal problems was 8.6%. Prevalence by school grade ranged from 3.2% to 13.7%. Estimated prevalence rates increased as grade increased and were higher in junior high school students than in elementary school students. The secondary examination identified musculoskeletal problems on the back (65.4%), knee (8.1%), ankle or feet (7.3%) and elbow (5.4%). Of those referred for a secondary examination, 44.4% had not reported musculoskeletal complaints on the initial questionnaire. Overall, 69.8% of problems diagnosed in the secondary examination were previously undiagnosed. ConclusionsSchool-based musculoskeletal examination enables early detection of abnormal growth and disorders of the locomotive organs and is expected to support children's musculoskeletal growth and development. We recommend musculoskeletal examinations as part of school check-ups in Japan. Our findings suggest musculoskeletal examinations should be conducted for students in higher elementary school grades and for all junior high school students. Evaluation should include both direct clinical examination and questionnaires.

Elementary English Education: An Arena of Social Struggle for Professional Chinese Parents

In response to the national and individual needs for English instruction, China mandated English provision in elementary schools in 2001. Grounded in the work of Bourdieu, this study examines professional Chinese parents' language attitudes in relation to their social positions. It draws data from interviews with 20 professional Chinese parents and joint classroom observations with their children in an urban public elementary school in Beijing, China. The findings of this study include that professional Chinese parents hold the instrumental, integrative, and affective language attitudes. Elementary English education is an arena for socioeconomic struggle. It is a field of competition in terms of educational resources and parents' social positions. This study highlights that English is a carrier of inequality and injustice. It is a means of escaping social injustice in China. The study indicates contradictions and conflicts among the English language policy for elementary schools, parental language attitudes, private tutoring, and children's English learning.

The Influence of Health Behaviors During Childhood on Adolescent Health Behaviors, Health Indicators, and Academic Outcomes Among Participants from Hawaii.

Health behaviors during childhood may influence adolescent health behaviors and be related to other important outcomes, but no longitudinal research has examined this in a multicultural population in Hawaii to date. This study investigated if childhood moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA), fruit and vegetable consumption, and sedentary behavior influence adolescent (1) MVPA, fruit and vegetable consumption, and sedentary behavior; (2) body mass index (BMI) percentile, general health, and stress; and (3) school marks and school absenteeism. Three cohorts of public elementary school children (fourth to sixth graders) who participated in a state-mandated after-school program in 2004, 2005, and 2006 completed baseline (demographics, MVPA, fruit and vegetable consumption, and sedentary behavior) and 5-year follow-up surveys (demographics, MVPA, fruit and vegetable consumption, and sedentary behavior; BMI, general health, stress, school marks, and absenteeism; combined follow-up n = 334; 14.76 ± 0.87 years old; 55.1% female; 53% Asian, 19.8% Native Hawaiian/other Pacific Islander, 15.3% White, and 11.9% other). Regressions found that childhood MVPA (mean [m] = 45.42, standard deviation [SD] = 31.2 min/day) and fruit and vegetable consumption (m = 6.96, SD = 4.54 servings/day) predicted these behaviors in adolescence (m = 47.22, SD = 27.04 min/day and m = 4.63, SD = 3.03 servings/day, respectively, p < 0.05). Childhood sedentary behavior (m = 3.85, SD = 2.85 h/day)) predicted adolescent BMI percentile (m = 60.93, SD = 28.75, p < 0.05). Childhood fruit and vegetable consumption and sedentary behavior negatively predicted adolescent marks (B average, p < 0.05). Childhood health behaviors do influence adolescent health behaviors, some health outcomes, and some academic indicators in this population, especially childhood sedentary behavior, which underlines the importance of sedentary behavior interventions.