School-going Children Research Articles

Status of Learning Resources in Day Secondary Schools Located in Chepalungu Sub County in the Wake of Corona Virus Pandemic

Education is a fundamental human right that ideally should be available to all. Currently, Kenya supports international advocacy for universal education for all school-going children. In this Republic, 8592 public secondary schools are ascribing to subsidized free day secondary education (FDSE) programs. This program was put in place to improve access to secondary school education. The Government supports the post-primary education program by providing funds for infrastructure, tuition materials, and employment of support staff. During the implementation of the education program, the Corona pandemic struck, thereby disrupting the education process. After a short break, normal school operations resumed. Therefore, this study intended to evaluate the coping strategies used by schools in Chepalungu to deal with the mandatory spacing rules put in place by the Ministry of Health to help control the spread of the virus. The study targeted 54-day schools from which a sample of 48 was selected. A cross-sectional survey design was employed whereby questionnaires were administered to principals in the study area. Key Informant interview was also conducted with two Education officers. The study established that the FDSE funds availed to the schools were inadequate to help erect additional learning spaces, which would help enforce the social distancing rule. Classes were congested and were operating above the required capacity. This study recommends that the FDSE funds should be increased so that learning can go on in an environment that responds to the guidelines put forth by the Ministry of Health as far as containing the spread of coronavirus is concerned. Out of the study, it was found that learning resources in day schools were inadequate, and students were learning in congested environments

Oral Hygiene Practices of Rural and Urban School Going Children in Punjab

Abstract: Background: The early years of life are essential for establishing a solid foundation for oral and dental health. Children with poor oral and systemic health typically have poor dietary habits and insufficient oral hygiene practices, particularly brushing. Objective: To assess and compare the oral hygiene practices of rural and urban school-going children in Punjab. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted from September 2021 to August 2022, after the approval of IRB, among five urban and five rural schools in Punjab using an interview-administered survey tool through purposive sampling of 600 students. The questionnaire was developed by the authors and validated using face validity. The data were stored and analyzed using IBM SPSS version 23. Result: A total of 650 students were approached; out of them, 600 responded. Almost one-third of them had the habit of brushing twice daily (27%), whereas most were brushing once daily (65.4%). The rural school children used miswak, manjan, and their finger more significantly; however, toothpaste was the major agent for cleaning teeth (89.4%). The urban school children were using toothbrushes more significantly. Rural school children more frequently used Miswak and finger. Urban schoolchildren often brushed at night, whereas no difference was reported between morning and nighttime. Conclusion: Most urban school children were using toothbrushes and toothpaste. The use of miswak and manjan was more common in rural areas. The most common time for brushing was morning and night. Rural areas need to have access to oral health education and subsidized toothpaste and toothbrushes.

Evaluating the Impact of Training Teachers to Identify Learning Disabilities: A Pre-experimental Study on Knowledge Enhancement.

Introduction Learning disability (LD) affects many school-going children and is seldom recognized or treated. As teachers spend time with students, they can easily recognize LD by observing academic activities and behaviors. In this context, the present study was conducted to assess the knowledge and practices of teachers regarding LD and evaluate the impact of an educational intervention on teachers' knowledge regarding LD and its screening and referral. Methods A pre-experimental study, including pre-post interventional assessments of teachers, was conducted from June 2018 to December 2019. A universal sample of 150 teachers from 10 schools teaching primary (first to fifth grade) and upper primary (sixth to eight grade) grades was included. Their knowledge about LD was assessed using the Dyslexia Assessment for the Languages of India (DALI), and an educational intervention for assessing, screening, and identifying LD was implemented. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 24.0 (IBM Inc., Armonk, New York). Using descriptive statistics (mean, median, and standard deviation). The pre-post test results were compared using the McNemar test. Results Overall knowledge about LD was 24.7% at baseline, and improved to 76% post-intervention (p<0.001). The knowledge for most of the components showed improvement. Teachers with a good level of knowledge increased from 21% to 84%. Post-intervention screening of students increased from 0.53% to 13.37%. The suspicion rate for LD increased from 0.04% to 1.94% post-intervention. Conclusion Knowledge about LD was poor among the school teachers. However, the overall knowledge about LD, its specific domains, screening as well as actual LD screening significantly improved after the intervention (p<0.001). This emphasizes the need of training primary and post-primary school teachers about LD and the services available for children with LD.

Burden of Goitre and Urinary Iodine Status among Primary School Children in Kashmir, India-Evidence from a Population-Based Iodine Deficiency Disorder Survey.

Iodine deficiency is the leading cause of preventable brain damage, with 30% of the world's population suffering from iodine deficiency disorders (IDDs). The objectives of the study are to estimate the prevalence of goitre among schoolchildren in the age group of 6-12 years, to find out the proportion of households with adequately iodised salt, and to assess the dietary iodine intake by measuring urinary iodine levels in the urine samples of school-going children. A cross-sectional study was conducted in four pre-selected districts of the Kashmir division of Jammu and Kashmir in school-going children aged 6 to 12 years. Multi-stage 30 cluster sampling was used to select the study sample. For the selection of 30 clusters in each district, probability proportional to size (PPS) was employed. From each cluster, 90 children were selected. From a sub-sample of children in each district, 540 salt samples and 270 urine samples were also collected. A total of 10,800 children aged 6-12 years were examined. Grade I goitre was present in 1382 (12.8%) and 116 (1.07%) which were having Grade II goitre. The weighted prevalence of goitre for four districts was 12.6%, lowest for district Ganderbal and highest for district Shopian. Half of the population in all the districts consumed salt with iodine levels of <15 ppm. Urinary iodine levels <99.9 mg/L were present in 15.7% indicating mild to moderate iodine deficiency. Though the present survey showed some decline in the total goitre rate (TGR) from a prevalence of 14.8% in 2017 to 12.6% in 2022, it continues to be a public health problem of mild to moderate intensity in Kashmir. The salt consumed at the household level was inadequately iodised. Hence, efforts in IDD elimination activities need to be scaled up further with emphasis on iodised salt quality control and intensive education at the community level.

Association of Body Mass Index and Chronology of Tooth Eruption in Children visiting a Dental Hospital in UAE: A Cross-sectional Study

AimThe objective of this research was to investigate the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and the mean age at which permanent teeth erupt in school-going children. Materials and Method: This cross-sectional study at RAK College of Dental Sciences, UAE, involved 89 children aged 6–14 years. Erupted teeth in the mouth were included. Statistical analysis, including t-tests, ANOVA, and Kruskal-Wallis, was conducted using SPSS version 29, with a significance threshold set at p < 0.05. Results: Out of 89 children (41 girls and 48 boys) in the study, 56.17 % had normal weight, 20.22 % were overweight, 17.97 % were underweight, and 5.6 % were obese. Female children generally experienced earlier permanent tooth eruption than males. Additionally, there was an observed trend of earlier tooth eruption with increasing weight or BMI. Underweight children notably displayed a delayed mean age of tooth eruption. Conclusion: This study demonstrates a notable correlation between BMI and the mean age at which permanent teeth erupt in school-going children aged 6 to 14 years who visited our dental hospital. To establish a more precise understanding of the connection between BMI and dental development, we recommend conducting further longitudinal studies involving multiple centers. Clinical Significance: Monitoring a child's BMI is crucial for assessing dental health and planning tailored treatment for those aged 6 to 14. Understanding the BMI's connection to permanent tooth eruption timing allows dental professionals to identify trends in early or delayed development. This enables them to customize treatment strategies, promoting a precise and personalized approach for better oral health outcomes in this age group.

Psychological impact and development of autistic traits in children during the COVID 19 Pandemic: A study through Guardian

The COVID 19 pandemic has significantly affected people's lives worldwide. Although children may not experience severe physical symptoms of the disease, their psychological well-being can be greatly affected. The primary objective of this study was to examine the psychological impact of COVID-19 on children residing in the Kashmir valley in terms of evolution of autistic traits in them. Cross-sectional study was conducted amongst 300 family members of children aged between 4 to 16-years. Data was collected through an online questionnaire using Google Forms and purposive sampling technique was used to assess autism. The sample for the study consisted of children in the 4 year to 16-year age group. A self-designed validated questionnaire in Google Form was used to collect the information. Chidhood Autism Rating Scale-2 (CARS-2) was used in those with excessive mobile phone usage. The results of the study revealed that only 3% of the children were infected with COVID-19. 7% of the sample reported that a close family member of a child was infected. Furthermore, 76% of the sample reported that they discussed COVID-19 with their children. In terms of behavioral changes, 54% of the sample noticed a change in their child's behaviour during the COVID pandemic. Additionally, 51% reported a change in their children's learning patterns, and 48% reported that their child had become possessive about new things since the pandemic. Furthermore, 35% of the sample reported a change in their child's sleeping cycle, 22.7% reported a loss of appetite, and 56% reported that their child imagined and talked about COVID-19 with others. It was also found that 80.3% of the sample had adhered to COVID-19 precautions. Only 4.3% reported negative thoughts expressed by their children since the pandemic, while 88% reported that their children were ready to discuss in future COVID-19. In the 4 to 6 year age group, out of 12 children with excessive mobile phone use, it was found that two were having symptoms consistent with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Other common symptoms noticed in this age group were found to be clapping, single verbal sounds, inability to express needs, moderate abnormal listening response, echolalia and video dialoguing. Most families reported that their children were possessive about new things and most of them were not sitting at one place for a long time. A large percentage of families reported that they found changes in the sleep pattern and duration of sleep was more than 9 hours. It was also found that screen time during COVID-19 increased among school-going children.

Impact of Covid-19 on Learning, Behavior and Habits of School Going Children

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a considerable impact on the learning and behavior of school-going children. The pandemic has disrupted traditional in-person learning, leading to an increase in remote and hybrid learning. This has resulted in challenges for both teachers and students. These factors have impacted their overall well-being. This research has been done in this context to evaluate the impact of COVID-19 on the learning, behavior, and habits of school-going children. The study included 272 teachers who are mentoring more than 12000 students at Navy Children School from 8 different states of India. The result reveals the consequences of the erratic situation aroused by the pandemic. This study explains that a considerable number of children got affected by the circumstances evoked by COVID-19 in terms of change in behavioral patterns, irregular habits and learning gaps.

Comparative Evaluation of Horizontal Lip Position With Ricketts Esthetic Plane in Preschool and School-Going Children of Bankura, West Bengal: A Craniofacial Anthropometric Study.

Introduction The horizontal lip position and esthetic plane are two important parameters to define facial beauty, and these factors are always given importance in children undergoing fixed orthodontic therapy. The purpose of this study was to evaluate horizontal lip position in primary and mixed dentition children with class I occlusion and to analyze its association with gender among preschool and schoolchildren of villages in the Bankura district in West Bengal. Materials and methods Researchers screened 437 children for the study and selected those who met the inclusion criteria. A total of 407 children were segregated: 201 children aged three to five years with the flush terminal plane and mesial step in primary teeth and 206 children aged seven to eleven years with class I occlusion in mixed dentition were selected from schools in villages in Bankura district, West Bengal, India. The subjects were instructed to hold the head in the natural head position by looking straight, and points were marked on the nose and chin tip, respectively. A metallic ruler was placed from nose to chin, representing Rickett's esthetic line. The horizontal lip distance to the esthetic plane of both upper and lower lips was measured as a linear distance from the most anterior part of the lip to the metallic ruler. The data were recorded, compared with gender, and statistically analyzed using the Chi-square test using the Statistical Package of Social Sciences software (SPSS version 19.0, 2015, IBM Corp., Armonk, NY). Results The most prevalent horizontal lip distance for both upper and lower lips to the esthetic line for primary and mixed dentition in the Bankura region of West Bengal was category I, where the lip is seen beyond the E plane, followed by category II, where lips are at a horizontal distance in the range of 0-1.5 mm from the esthetic line. A significant correlation of lip position with Rickets aesthetic plane was also illustrious with gender in primary dentition, but a non-significant association with gender was noted in mixed dentition. Conclusion Children with class I occlusion from the Bankura district of West Bengal showed a higher percentage of lip position beyond the esthetic plane in both primary and mixed dentition, which is not in line with the inference of Ricketts's studies on the Caucasian population. There is a definite association between gender and horizontal lip distance in Ricketts esthetic plane. Protrusive upper lips were seen more in males, and retrusive lips were seen more in females. Clinical significance The horizontal lip position with reference to Ricketts esthetic plane has been documented in the literature for adults and teens undergoing fixed orthodontic treatment. However, there is no study done to define these measurements in preschool and school-going children, which can assist in determining future esthetic profiles and in preparing a protocol for early age interceptive orthodontics along with aesthetic rehabilitation of the anterior area of the mouth.

Estimation of Rotavirus Associated Diarrheal Disease Burden Amongst Primary School Children of Sindh

Introduction: Human Rotavirus Virus (HRV) is amongst the common enteric viral diarrheal diseases that indirectly or directly influence school-going children in low-income countries. Inadequate information exists on the presence of rotavirus, with reference to drinking water supplies of primary schools in Sindh, Pakistan. Aims &amp; Objectives: We estimated the risk of rotavirus-associated diarrhea through drinking water. The study further compared the HRV-associated risk of diarrheal disease by a type of water source. Place and Duration of Study: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in ten representative districts of Sindh from February 2022 to December 2022. The samples for drinking water were collected from primary schools of ten representative districts of Sindh. This study was a part of the WASH Project funded by USAID (USPCASW Seed Grant P-II) Material &amp; Methods: We selected 425 samples of drinking water from primary schools based on pre-defined selection criteria. We used a Quantitative Microbial Risk Analysis using indicator organisms, i.e., E. coli, to predict the possible health risks of rotavirus. Data was entered and analyzed on SPSS version 26. The graphs were developed using Arc GIS version 3. Morbidity and mortality were predicted using the Quantitative Microbial Risk Assessment (QAMRA) model. Results: Our data revealed that the highest daily risk of HRV-associated diarrhea amongst school children was 11 per 10,000 schoolchildren, resulting in 8.4% annual risk, and the minimum risk was estimated to be 1 in 10,000 children. The burden of diseases for rotavirus using the QAMRA model revealed the severity of the diarrhea. Majority of the children presented with mild diarrhea (86%) followed by severe, and the probability of death was less than &lt;1%. The daily risk of HRV infection was highest (estimated to be 7 and 11%) in pupils of Southern Sindh, with an annual risk of 17.4% to 40%. Conclusion: Our study concluded that the children in the primary schools of Sindh were exposed to poor drinking water quality. The surface water source poses the highest risk of HRV-related diarrhea to school children. Thus, it is highly recommended that point-of-use drinking water treatment systems be adopted. The water sanitation and hygiene (WASH) resources are interlinked, so each resource impacts the other; hence, schools urgently need to invest in providing adequate WASH facilities to stop enteric virus transmission through drinking water sources.

Evaluation and Comparison of Facial Appearance Using the Golden Ratio: An Anthropometric Study in Preschool and School-Going Children of Santhal Tribe in West Bengal.

Introduction Golden ratio and beauty are two inseparable sides of the same coin and have been studied for centuries by the Greeks. This divine ratio is defined as an invincible parameter in aesthetic dentistry to measure looks, symmetry, and balance. Being beautiful and handsome also boosts confidence in today's children and therefore is a top priority for young growing kids. However, there is no study done to define facial measurements based on the golden ratio in preschool and school-going children that can succor aesthetics in formative years. The purpose of this research was to evaluate facial proportions in the vertical dimension, quantify them in reference to the golden ratio, and analyze the association with gender among preschool and school-going children of the Santhal tribe in the Bankura district. Materials and methods A total of 399 subjects, 198 children of 3-5 years with primary teeth and 201 children of 6-12 years with mixed dentition, were selected from schools in villages of Bankura district, West Bengal, India. The subjects were made to relax in a sitting position and a digital vernier caliper was used to record the following vertical facial parameters: total facial height (TFH), trichion-gnathion distance (Tr-Gn), and subnasale-gnathion distance (Sn-Gn). The total facial height was correlated with sexual dimorphism and dentition. The ratio of Tr-Sn/Sn-Gn was calculated and compared with the golden ratio. The ratio was classified as normal (if it was between 1.6 and 1.699, i.e., normal to the golden ratio value), long (if it was more than 1.699, i.e., more than the golden ratio value), or short (if it was below 1.6, i.e., less than the golden ratio value). This facial analysis based on the golden ratio was correlated to sexual dimorphism and dentition. The data were recorded, compared with gender, and statistically analyzed using the unpaired t-test and Chi-square test. Results The total facial height was larger in males than females in both primary and mixed dentition; however, the value was highly significant in primary dentition. Tr-Sn/Sn-Gn ratios were lower in the longfacial categoryin both males and females in both preschool and school-going children. The values were statistically significant in these ratios for both dentitions. Conclusion The majority of children in the Santhal tribe of Bankura in West Bengal did not conform to the golden ratio and showed long faces. There was a significant association of facial features with sexual dimorphism. Clinical significance The early prediction of facial features in children and its confirmation with the established golden ratio can be considered an imperative parameter to comprehend facial aesthetics and symmetry.

Child Labor in India's Perspective

On one hand, child labor hinders development and healthy competition all around the society and on the other hand, it gives rise to unemployment, illiteracy, population growth, diseases and socio-economic inequality among the poor people. On the other hand, it also destroys human rights, child rights and human dignity. According to a survey conducted by UNICEF, 1 crore 80 lakh children are working on the streets in the cities of India alone. Most of them have never even seen the face of a school. A study of slums in Kolkata has found that 84 percent of school-going children are out of school. Of which 49 percent of children are child laborers. If we look at the total numbers, it is estimated that there are more than 6 crore child laborers in hazardous and highly dangerous enterprises. On the other hand, lakhs of boys and girls are working as domestic laborers even within the closed walls of their homes. Due to the lack of social governments, their number is continuously increasing. Many reasons contribute to the miserable condition of child laborers. Firstly, the industry knows all the ways to protect the law in their cases and it also understands that a child's body is so helpless that it is easy to work in any situation and then there is no guesswork. The danger also does not exist. Who could be better suited for low wages and more work than children.

Factors contributing to antibiotic misuse among parents of school-going children in Dhaka City, Bangladesh

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a pressing global health concern, especially in resource-constrained countries, such as Bangladesh. This study aimed to identify the factors contributing to antibiotic misuse by assessing knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP). A cross-sectional study was conducted from August 20 to August 30, 2022, among 704 parents of school-going children in Dhaka South City. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the KAP, and multivariate models, including linear and ordinal logistic regression, were used to explore the associations between these factors. The findings revealed that approximately 22% of the participants were male and 78% were female. Most parents (58%) had completed higher secondary education. Approximately 45% of the respondents demonstrated moderate knowledge, 53% had uncertain attitudes, and 64% exhibited antibiotic misuse. Factors such as parental age, education level, employment status, income, child's age, and family type significantly influenced KAP. These findings emphasize the importance of targeted education and awareness initiatives to enhance knowledge and responsible antibiotic use among parents, contributing to global efforts against antibiotic resistance. The government should enforce laws and regulations regarding the misuse of antibiotics.

Trends in Mental Wellbeing of US Children, 2019-2022: Erosion of Mental Health Continued in 2022.

We provide fresh estimates of a change in the nationwide prevalence of mental health symptoms among US children during the COVID-19 pandemic using National Health Interview Survey data (2019-22) on children aged 2-17 years (n = 27,378; age subgroups 2-5, 6-11, and 12-17) to assess overall mental distress and 19 specific outcomes related to developmental, communicative, cognitive, affective, and behavioral domains. Raw and adjusted (for socio-demographics) linear regressions estimated the change in prevalence for each outcome between 2019 (baseline year) and three succeeding years (2020-2022). Summary scores for mental distress rose between 2019 and 2020 (1.01 to 1.18 points, range of 0-15), declined slightly in 2021 (1.09), and climbed sharply again in 2022 (1.25). The declines primarily affected adolescents (1.11 at baseline, 1.24 in 2020, 1.30 in 2021, and 1.49 in 2022). Specific outcomes belonging to all domains of mental health showed similar increases in prevalence. US children suffered significant erosion of mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic that continued into 2022. Expansion of mental health programs aimed at school-going children will likely be needed to respond effectively to the ongoing crisis.

Non-compliance of Spectacle Wear in School-Going Children With Refractive Errors.

Background Uncorrected refractive errors are the most common cause of avoidable visual impairment in children worldwide. The school screening of refractive errors is one of the most important initiatives outlined in WHO Vision 2020 targets for control of avoidable visual impairment in children. However, the benefit depends on the compliance of the spectacle worn by children. Objective To determine non-compliance of spectacle wear and its predisposing factors among school-going children in Lahore, Pakistan. Methods This cross-sectional analytical study was conducted among 200 school-going children (5-16 years), with spectacle prescription for at least the last six months studying in primary and secondary schools of Lahore, by using convenience sampling. We collected data with the help of a standardized, self-administered, close-ended questionnaire determining age, gender, class, and non-compliance and its reasons. Data were subjected to statistical evaluation using Statistical Product and Service Solutions (SPSS, version 26; IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Armonk, NY), and a chi-square test was applied to determine the statistical significance. p-value 0.05 was considered significant. Results Of the 200 children, 42 were boys, and 158 were girls, with a mean age of 12 years with a standard deviation of 2.6. The proportion of spectacle wear non-compliance was 19.5% (n=39). Children with non-compliance were more likely in the age group of 14-16 years (n=20{51.3%}; p=0.039). The main reasons for non-compliance were dislike to wear spectacles (28.2%), broken spectacles (23.1%), spectacles causing headache (20.5%), spectacles lost and parents' disapproval (20.5%), and peer pressure/teasing (15.4%). Significant difficulties faced while wearing spectacles were pressure on the nose due to worn-out nose pads (36.4%), pressure on ears causing pain in the temple and headache (34.1%), repeated cleaning of spectacles (29.5%), heavy spectacles (18.2%), excessive glare and pain in the eyes (12.5%), and improper fitting of spectacles (11.4%). Conclusions We found that non-compliance was more significant in school-going children aged 14-16 years and girls. The main reasons were unlikeness to wear, broken spectacles, headache, and spectacles lost. School children were not compliant because of many issues that should be addressed, and this information will be used for better eye care in school-going children with refractive errors.

Factors contributing to online child sexual abuse in Bangladesh: A qualitative inquiry.

Children globally, including in Bangladesh, are facing various forms of online sexual abuse including sextortion, exploitation, body shaming, and blackmail. They are also coerced into engaging in intimate activities, harassed through the sending of sexual content, among other forms of abuse. We aimed to explore the root cause of online child sexual abuse (OCSA) in Bangladesh. This qualitative research design utilized in-depth interviews (IDIs) and key informant interviews (KIIs) between February and April 2022. The study sample comprised 21 school-going children aged 13-17 years, selected from two different geographical settings (10 from rural areas and 11 from urban areas) in Bangladesh using purposive sampling techniques. They participated in in-depth interviews (IDIs) while additional data was obtained through key informant interviews (KIIs) with 11 multidisciplinary stakeholders. Children from both rural and urban areas reported facing abuse in various ways, such as being asked to send naked photos, being invited to be naked in video calls, and being invited to have virtual sex, among others, over the internet. The government should consider integrating OCSA education into secondary levels. Additionally, there should be efforts to ensure a safe online environment through content scrutiny, promotion of outdoor activities, and community campaigns. An anonymous reporting system must be implemented, and strict measures under the Children's Act must be enforced against perpetrators. Further intervention studies are needed to ensure effective child protection measures in Bangladesh.

SCOPE OF AYURVEDA IN PREVENTIVE ASPECTS OF NETRA ROGAS

Acharyas says that “Sarvendriyaanam Nayanam Pradhanam” among all the sense organs, the eyes are the most important. The eyes help us visualize objects and also help us with light, colour and depth perception. Eyes pro-vide us with direction and guide most of our actions. Factors like too much screen time, nutritional deficiency, not getting enough sleep, not wearing sunglasses, staying dehydrated, rubbing your eyes, drinking, and smoking affect vision. One out of every three people in India is blind. Over 15million people are blind in India. The lead-ing causes of vision impairment and blindness are refractive errors, cataracts, ARMD, glaucoma, diabetic reti-nopathy, hypertensive retinopathy, and retinal detachments. Vision impairment severely impacts the quality of life in all age groups. Young and school-going children experience lower levels of educational achievement, while adults have lower employment rates. In the case of older, visual impairment can contribute to social isola-tion, difficulty in walking, and a high risk of falls and fractures. To prevent all these effects, Ayurveda is the on-ly choice. The primary aim of Ayurveda is the prevention of disease and the promotion of positive health. Ac-cording to Ayurveda, to maintain a healthy and disease-free life, one should follow a dinacharya. So, the purpose of this article is to enlighten the scope of Ayurveda in the prevention of Netra rogas explained, especially in the form of dinacharya related to netra, pasta and apathy Sahara and vihara, eye exercise, rasayana therapy and the importance of virechana in neutral rogas.

SALIVARY CHARACTERISTICS AMONG 12-YEAR-OLD CHILDREN WITH SIGNIFICANT CARIES INDEX FROM URBAN AND SUBURBAN SCHOOLS IN CAN THO CITY

Background: Dental caries is the most prevalent chronic childhood disease with numerous predisposing factors. Salivary properties have been linked to progressive dental caries in previous studies. However, the role of these contributing factors in the management of dental caries in children remains insufficient. Thus, the investigation of salivary characteristics from different types of communities within a specific pediatric population is an obvious demand. Objectives: To assess the salivary characteristics among school-going children aged 12 years from two urban and suburban schools in Can Tho city. Materials and methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted on 62 twelve-year-old students with significant caries index in two locations with different socioeconomic status in Can Tho city. Those participants underwent saliva testing by using a saliva testing kit (Saiva-Check BUFFER) to evaluate stimulated and unstimulated saliva parameters including consistency, flow rate, pH and buffering capacity. Results: Out of the total population, males and females made up 40.3% and 59.7%, respectively. Both boys and girls had similarities in all salivary parameters (p &gt; 0.05). Nearly half of suburban students (48.4%) had resting frothy bubbly saliva while more than half of urban students (58.1%) had watery clear saliva at rest. All students had moderate and normal acidic saliva before and after stimulation regardless of living areas. The discrepancy in resting salivary viscosity, resting salivary pH was statistically significant based on region (p &lt; 0.05). 64.5% of the students in both suburban and urban enclaves had a normal stimulated saliva flow rate. In contrast, a normal or high buffering capacity of stimulated saliva was only seen in a few students. Regarding the flow rate, pH, and buffering capacity of stimulated saliva, there were no differences between urban and suburban areas (p &gt; 0.05). Conclusions: The findings of this study provide additional proof of the significance of salivary properties in assessing dental caries, especially in socioeconomic deprivation areas. Furthermore, it also implies that salivary parameters should be taken into account as a potential indicator for managing high caries-risk children.

Biomass or LPG? A case study for unraveling cooking fuel choices and motivations of rural users in Maheshkhali Island, Bangladesh

Biomass fuel could effectively address the existing energy crisis in developing countries, including Bangladesh, yet its potential remains largely overlooked in scholarly and policy discussions. The objective of this study was to understand the people's perception of fuelwood, LPG, and cow dung as well as to identify factors influencing the choices of solid cooking fuels and the extent of daily fuelwood consumption in Maheshkhali, a secluded island off the coast of the Bay of Bengal in Bangladesh, characterized by its diverse landscapes. Primary data was collected through a questionnaire survey and focus group discussions and were analyzed using descriptive statistics, binomial logistic regression, and ordinary least squares regression (OLSR) to identify key determinants. Our findings suggest a pronounced preference for biomass fuel, as indicated by the odds ratio and user perceptions grounded in the central capability approach. The OLSR results indicate that cooking time, quantity collection, the number of school-going children, and educational score explain 82.5% of the total variance in fuelwood consumption, making them major driving factors. The household survey revealed a stark reliance on biomass fuel, with 87% of families using it exclusively, while only 4% rely solely on LPG. Fuelwood collection, primarily a task for women and children, also involved men who spent approximately five hours to traverse 1.5 km to collect 23 kg of biomass per trip. The strong biomass preference for fuel, in terms of central capability, underscores the challenges in motivating users to cleaner alternatives like LPG.

Prevalence, Patterns and Correlation of Behavioral and Emotional Disorders in School-going Children and Adolescents: A Cross-sectional Study

Prevalence, Patterns and Correlation of Behavioral and Emotional Disorders in School-going Children and Adolescents: A Cross-sectional Study

Impact of Body Composition on Dynamic Balance in School-going Children: A Comprehensive Literature Review

Introduction: The primary goal is to provide insights into the mechanisms underlying this relationship and to highlight the relevance of understanding body composition for balance-related interventions. Dynamic balance is crucial for daily activities, and understanding how body composition affects balance can inform strategies to improve balance control and reduce the risk of falls and injuries in children. The present review addresses the gap in knowledge regarding the specific impact of body composition on dynamic balance and its implications for school-going children. Aim: To investigate the relationship between body composition and dynamic balance to elucidate how body composition influence balance performance in school-going children. Materials and Methods: A comprehensive literature search included school-going children from the age 5 to 19 years and was conducted using PubMed, Cochrane, Scopus and Web of Science databases to identify relevant studies published up to the present date. Articles investigating the association between body composition and dynamic balance in school-going children were included. Results: A total of 913 articles were retrieved for the present study. After removing duplicate articles only 9 articles were evaluated in this literature review. The aim was to explore the relationship between body composition and dynamic balance in school going children. All the 9 articles showed a relatively high proportion of children with overweight and obesity exhibit impairment of dynamic balance. Conclusion: The present review concluded that Body Mass Index (BMI) affects dynamic balance in school-going children. These effects can increase risk of falls and injuries among children. Overall, further research is required to elucidate the precise mechanisms underlying how body composition affects dynamic balance and to develop targeted interventions for improving balance for school-going children. This review will increase awareness about the implication of different balance test among school-going students