Slum Children Research Articles

Exploring the factors associated with undernutrition among 6–59 months children residing in slum areas of the south-western region, Bangladesh

ABSTRACT This study aimed to explore the undernutrition and its associated factors among children aged 6–59 months residing in slum areas of southwestern Bangladesh. A validated administered questionnaire was used to collect data from 600 slum children. Logistic regression models were employed to identify the factors associated with undernutrition. The prevalence of underweight, stunted, and wasted were 34.5%, 31.3%, and 26.2%, respectively. The odds of undernutrition were higher in 6–23-month-olds and mothers had ≥ 3 under-five children. Maternal education, timely complementary feeding, latrine type, and worm infestation were significantly associated with the degrees of undernutrition.

Impact of rural-urban migration in low-income settlements in Bangladesh: A case study on Baganbari slum

Rural-urban migration is one of the most familiar terms in the present world, especially in developing countries. The people of Bangladesh have a strong tendency to migrate towards the megacities. The migrants are required to cope with many uncertainties, risks, and challenges. This paper is aimed to find out the impact of RUM especially on the life standards of the migrants. Here qualitative approach has been followed, and the Baganbari slum of Mirpur region has been selected as the representative of the slums of Bangladesh. Demographic characteristics of the respondents were presented here in order to categorize the migrants. Based on survey questionnaires, 20 household heads of the slum were part of the survey. Three key informant interviews, five FGDs, and two case studies were also used to collect data. During FGD and KII, the respondents were asked about their monthly income, hometown, religion, age, monthly income, and others. Also, the respondents mentioned about some causes of their migration. The study shows the brutalities of slum life and reflects the limitations of slum life as well. According to the findings of the study, the government should take a special look at the proper education and skill development facilities of the slum children.

Ocular morbidity profiles of out-of-school children in a North Indian urban slum.

This study evaluates the recent trends in ocular morbidities and vision-related practices in "out-of-school" children in urban slums of Gurugram in North India. In this observational study, a validated questionnaire was administered to 161 students from two nonformal slum schools. Sociocultural, demographic data, vision-related practices, and visual acuity with subjective refraction of the children were recorded. A total of 80 boys and 81 girls (9.17 ± 2.58 years) participated in this study. About 40% of the children were from lower socioeconomic status. The visual acuity recorded for all the children, except three children, was 6/6 in both eyes. One child had a pre-phthisical eye with no light perception, following a childhood trauma, with the other eye having 6/6 vision. Two children had refractive errors (myopia and compound myopic astigmatism), with a best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) of 6/6. Thirteen children (8%) had Bitot's spots and 67 (35.4%) had allergic conjunctivitis. Eight (5%) children complained of dry eye-related symptoms like redness and watering of eyes, while 19 (11.8%) had diffuse headache. Average number of years spent in school for these children was less than 1.7 years (range: 1 month-6 years). Only 10.5% of the children gave the history of watching television more than 30 h/week. Significant association was found between the income of father and use of digital devices in children below 10 years ( P = 0.003) and children playing outdoors ( P = 0.001). There was a significant association noted for age and use of digital devices ( P = 0.037). The prevalence of refractive errors in "out-of-school" children of urban slum was much less than the national average. Almost one in three children suffered from eye allergies, while 8% children had Bitot's spots. The data about the prevalence of ocular comorbidities in underserved areas like urban slums can be used to update and strategize eye health-care delivery models for out-of-school children.

IJCM_46A: Attendance in Anganwadi centres through Anganwadi workers’ lens: A Force Field Analysis in Urban slum

Background: The NFHS-5 found that 35.5% (Urban areas-30%) of children under five years were stunted and 32.1% were overweight (1). ICDS being a centrally sponsored scheme, is functioning nationwide in tribal, rural and urban slums; with a potential to improve nutritional outcome as well as overall development of the child. Children dwelling in urban slums are at a higher risk of being undernourished. As per the NFHS 2015-16 survey, only 40.2% of children from urban areas are receiving ICDS services. The anganwadi workers(AWW) identify and encourage the beneficiaries to attend anganwadi regularly and avail the services. Objective: The aim of this study was to understand the reasons for a lower enrolment of children in anganwadi. Methodology: The study was conducted in an urban slum in Mumbai with a population of 1.2lakh. We conducted force field analysis among the AWWs in 3 groups of 6-7 each. The factors mentioned in individual sheets and those represented in diagram were analysed manually. Results: The force field analysis revealed that the motivating factors for attending anganwadi regularly were closer distance from home, attractive toys/activities, special food on certain days, interactive teachers, meeting friends, siblings going to school. On the contrary, reasons for poor/nil attendance were infrastructural challenges like restricted space, no water and electricity, rented anganwadis; availability of private/municipality preschools nearby; working parents; ration made available at doorsteps during COVID and disinterest in the variety of food provided. Conclusion: Need-based revamping of Anganwadis in urban slums is needed to improve the attendance of children and in turn ensure good nutrition and development of children in slums.

Malnutrition in children under five years in a squatter settlement of Karachi: a case-control study

BackgroundMultidimensional factors such as socioeconomic or environmental factors influence malnutrition. Several studies have strongly linked malnutrition to poverty. Some international studies point to the worse nutritional status of urban slum children than rural children. Limited data is available regarding the nutritional status of slum children in Karachi. This study aimed to determine characteristics of malnourished children in an urban squatter settlement in Karachi, Pakistan.MethodsA case- control study was carried out at the primary healthcare center of a squatter settlement in Karachi, Pakistan. All children under five years of age visiting the primary healthcare center were recruited consecutively. Cases were defined as children with z scores < -2 SD of WHO reference measurements of WFA, HFA, WFH and OFC. The controls were similar in terms of age group but had z scores between − 2SD and + 2SD. A self- structured risk factor questionnaire that included information about sociodemographic, economic and environmental factors as well as child- related characteristics was researcher administered via face-to-face interviews with the mothers of children. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted. Crude and adjusted odds ratios were calculated with 95% confidence interval.ResultsA total of 280 participants including 140 cases and 140 controls participated in the study. A larger proportion of the sample originated from individuals with low household income. After adjusting for the confounders, childhood malnutrition was significantly associated with a low education level of father (aOR 4.86, 95% CI 2.23–10.60), a monthly income less than 25,000 PKR (89 USD) per month (aOR 7.13, 95% CI 1.67–30.54), pour pit latrine type of toilet (aOR 4.41, 95% CI 2.67–7.3), less than six months of exclusive breast feeding (aOR 3.578, CI 1.58–8.08), inappropriate weaning age (aOR 3.71, 95% CI 1.53-9).ConclusionMalnutrition in children under five years of age in the community is associated with low family income, low paternal education, poor toilet facilities, lack of exclusive breastfeeding and inappropriate weaning age. The implementation of poverty reduction programs, sanitation provision at affordable rates, community-based breast feeding and weaning education intervention are urgently required to efficiently improve children’s nutritional status.

Water sanitation and hygiene at households and its implications on diarrhoea among under-five children of slums at field practice area of a Peripheral Medical College of West Bengal.

Inadequate water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) may lead to an increase in water-borne diseases like diarrhoea. The objective of the study was to assess water, sanitation and hygiene in the urban slums of Patpur, Bankura and to determine the implications of WASH on the occurrence of diarrhoea among under-five (U-5) children. A cross-sectional observational study was conducted during January-March 2020 by interviewing persons involved in water collection from each of the 182 slum households of Patpur, by two-stage sampling using a pre-designed structured schedule and the core questions on drinking WASH for household surveys: 2018 update by UNICEF and WHO. For testing the association between categorical variables, a Chi-square test was done. Binary logistic regression and the Hosmer Lemeshow test were done to know the predictors of diarrhoea in U-5 children. A P value of < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. The proportion of diarrhoea among U-5 children was 0.34. Limited drinking WASH services were found in 3.30, 45.05 and 24.18% of households, respectively. Mobile objects users for handwashing were 14.05 times more prone to diarrhoea in U-5 children than those who had fixed handwashing facilities at their dwellings, yards or plots. Feeding children without handwashing had 5.70 times increased chances of diarrhoea among U-5 children than those who washed their hands before feeding. Handwashing facilities (fixed, mobile object or no facility) and handwashing with soap and water before feeding the child significantly affected the occurrence of diarrhoea among U-5 children.

Fostering Resilience: An In-depth Investigation into the Dynamics of Growth and Development in Slum Children

The goal of the study is to understand the socio-economic and educational circumstances of Slum dwellers in the Rajshahi City Corporation. The study was carried out in the Jahaj Ghat area, which is located on the Padma River. 31 street children were chosen to collect data at random from the vulnerable slum. Interviews and questionnaires were conducted with the kids and their family heads. The finding reveals that the households are at significant risk related to housing, shelter, sanitation, water, social security, education, health, and livelihood troubles. Finally, the study recommended resolving the existing problems which will empower the parents of the slum dwellers to provide adequate support for their children to continue schooling.

Serosurveillance among urban slum and non-slum populations immunized with COVID-19 vaccines in Bangladesh.

Using two rounds of serosurveillance, we aimed to observe the COVID-19 vaccination status and the dynamics of antibody responses to different vaccines among urban slum and non-slum populations of Bangladesh. Adults (>18years) and children (10-17years) were enrolled in March and October 2022. Data including COVID-19 vaccine types and dosage uptake were collected. SARS-CoV-2 spike (S)-specific antibodies were measured in blood. The proportion of vaccinated children was significantly lower among slum than non-slum populations. Two doses of vaccines showed an increase in the level of anti-S-antibodies up to 2months, followed by reduced levels at 2-6months and a resurgence at 6-12months. Children showed significantly higher anti-S-antibodies after two doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine than adults; however, after 6months, the level of antibodies declined in younger children (10- <12years). In a mixed vaccine approach, mRNA vaccines contributed to the highest antibody response whether given as the first two doses or as the third dose. Our findings emphasized the need for increasing the coverage of COVID-19 vaccination among slum children and booster dosing among all children. The use of mRNA vaccines in the mixed vaccination approach was found to be useful in boosting the antibody response to SARS-CoV-2.

Health among Slum Children- A Sociological Study of Chennai City

The World Health Organization (WHO) defined health in its broader sense in its 1948 constitution as “a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.” Child health is the purview of pediatrics, which became a medical specialty in the mid-nineteenth century. Before that time the care and treatment of childhood diseases were included within such areas as general medicine, obstetrics and midwifery. A slum is a densely populated urban area and characterized by low standard of living. The rapid urbanization and increase in population resulted in the depletion and degradation of natural resources. Industrial expansion lead to the increase in the job potential in large cities, which attracted the rural population to migrate to cities and further converted the cities into a major slum and concrete jungles. Numbers of slums are increased in metropolitan cities due to acute shortage space for housing. At the same time, access to services like healthcare, fresh food, and basic sanitation may start to become restricted, creating filth and squalor. The present study titled Health among Slum Children- A Sociological Study of Chennai city has focused on the health conditions of Slum Children with three research objectives as (i). To find out the socio-economic background of the slum children in Chennai city, (ii). To bring out the nature and causes of health problems among slum children and (iii) To identify the types of health problems among slum children. The present study is descriptive in nature and tries to find out the nature and causes of health problems of slum children. The universe of the research is the total number of households of Ayothikuppam slum (1250 HH) and Saidapet slum (2220 HH). The total numbers of households are 3470. In order to have reliable data collection, the researcher has interviewed 50 slum children from the age group of 8-14 on the basis of convenient sampling method under Non-Random Sampling. The researcher has used interview schedule to collect data from the respondents. The findings of the study divulges that most of the slum children experienced diseases or health problems once in a month which are cold, cough and fever. During the illness time, 26% of the slum children were going to government hospital. 60% of the slum children are not having the habit of washing their hands before taking meals due to them play with friends and neighborhoods. 40% of the slum children are frequently affected by the fever like Malaria, Typhoid and 20% of the slum children were affected by cold and cough; sometimes it was in severe stage. The study has provided the following recommendations; i). Government has to provide formal education to the slum children and to guide them to go to school, ii) Government should take necessary step to clean the slum areas and near the Kuvam River, iii) NGO’s has to conduct more number of medical camps, awareness programmes about health and education to the slum children as well as their parents and iv) The government has to construct the public latrine for the slum areas.

Silver Diamine Fluoride

BACKGROUND Silver diamine fluoride can be used as an intervention or treatment for active and progressing untreated carious lesion not involving the pulp among children in slums, remote areas, rural areas and other underserved and un-served communities. Silver diamine fluoride stains teeth after use and it is available in different concentrations like 10 % , 12%, 30% and 38%. METHOD An electronic literature search in African journals online and Science direct was done in September , 2023 using the Population, Concept and Context framework. Search terms and keywords were combined by Boolean operators. Two independent investigators screened titles and abstracts of publications on silver diamine fluoride use among children. Original (primary) research articles with accessible full text were included for review, while review articles, systematic reviews, viewpoints, books, letters, thesis, editorials, book chapters, dissertations, perspectives were among articles excluded during screening. Original research articles involving teeth (in-vitro studies) were also excluded during screening. RESULTS Abstract and full texts were screened using inclusion criteria by two independent investigators. One article with accessible full text was included as it was assessed to meet the inclusion criteria and aim of the review. The study design was a randomised controlled clinical trial and it was carried out in Egypt. CONCLUSION Silver diamine fluoride (SDF) is a simple, non-aerosol-generating, painless, non-technique sensitive treatment procedure for active carious lesion not involving the pulp. More studies from diverse ethnic population in Africa countries will fill the gaps in knowledge and add to the existing literature.

Socio-Economic Condition of Slum Dwellers in Bankura Town: An Exploratory Analysis

The word “slum” refers to informal settlements in which the condition of houses is bad and living conditions are very poor. In Bankura town, there are 295 total slums, which are home to 46,341 people. This represents around 33.73% of Bankura town’s overall population. The slum population in Bankura town is continuously increasing. The slum dwellers in Bankura town mainly deprived from education, metal road, water supply, drainage and sanitation system. Some basic amenities need urgent attention in slum area by ULB of Bankura town. i.e. water supply , drainage and sanitation, education, shelter and road etc. The highest number of slum population located in Ward nos. 4, 10, 12, 17, 19, and 20 and maximum number of BPL population is located in Ward no. 19 and 20. The highest number of illiterate slum population is found in Ward no. 4, 10, 12, 17, 19, 20 and 22. The highest number of households in Ward no. 19 is having remote access to drinking water; whereas in Ward no. 1 &amp; 2 are having a lowest number of houses with remote access to drinking water sources. The highest number of houses with access road to house as kutcha road is found in Ward no. 19. The highest number of slum population identifying use of toilet as others, non-earning population, woman-earning member and drop out children in slum is observed in Ward no. 19. It is observed that slum population in Ward no. 19 and 20 are in worst condition in comparison to Ward no. 1 and 2. Development policies must be framed to prevent the formation of new slums and take necessary strategies for the development of socio-economic condition of slum dwellers in Bankura town.

Mahesh Foundation – care for the uncared

Learning outcomes The learning outcomes of this case study are to identify the role of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in social upliftment of developing countries, understand the functioning of NGOs, understand the challenges faced by the NGOs in day-to-day operations and discuss the probable solutions for the same, appreciate the role of leader and leadership in an NGO, study the working style of NGO leaders, appreciate the importance of having a formal organizational structure for these informal organizations (NGOs) to ensure the sustainability of their ventures and design a sustainable organization structure having a proper succession plan for the NGOs. Case overview/synopsis The case study is about one NGO – Mahesh Foundation – located in a small town named Belagavi, nestled in the state of Karnataka, India. Mahesh Foundation worked towards the upliftment of poor children infected with HIV. Today, fighting against all odds, Mahesh Foundation is a safe shelter home for 45 HIV-infected children in the age group of 6–18 years and has reached more than 2,000 beneficiaries from the time of its inception (2008). In addition, Mahesh Foundation also provides skill-based education to the HIV-infected, slum and underprivileged children. The foundation also supported the livelihood of underprivileged women and till date has supported more than 1,500 needy women. Mr Mahesh Jadhav, the founder member of Mahesh Foundation, has been successful in overcoming different challenges faced by the NGO, may it be the requirement for funds or shelters or social agitation. However, Jadhav was worried about the succession planning of his organisation. Mahesh Foundation, being run as a one-man show, Jadhav was bothered about its sustainability after him. The case study therefore highlights and discusses the importance of having a formal organization structure for such informal organizations, thereby having a proper succession plan to ensure their perpetual existence. Complexity academic level This case study is best taught as part of a graduate and postgraduate Business Administration (BBA/MBA) programme, Management Development Programme or Executive MBA Programme. Supplementary materials Teaching notes are available for educators only. Subject code CSS 11: Strategy.

Health-seeking behaviour and its determinants of health of Under-5 Children living in urban slums of Chennai, India 2018.

Appropriate health-seeking behaviour could help in reducing child mortality and morbidity. Information on social factors of mortality and health-seeking behaviours of caregivers of under-5 children from slums of Indian cities is minimal in literature. We estimated the prevalence of health-seeking behaviour for morbidity ofunder-5 children and its determinants in urban slums in Chennai city, India. A cross-sectional study was conducted using a mixed-method design among primary caregivers of under-5 children living in Chennai slums, India. Two-stage cluster sampling was adopted to select 40 slums. A total of 233 primary caregivers were interviewed. Nine focus group discussions and 18 in-depth interviews were conducted among the primary caregivers. Prevalence of inappropriate health-seeking behaviour was estimated, and determinants were identified by multivariate binary logistic regression analysis. Thematic analysis was done on qualitative data. We interviewed 233 primary caregivers. The weighted prevalence of inappropriate health-seeking behaviour for under-five children in urban slums of Chennai was 53.9% (95% CI: 46.9 - 60.8). Primary caregivers educated above secondary school were more likely (AOR of 2.3, 95% CI: 1.3-4.1) to follow inappropriate health-seeking behaviour compared to those educated below. Similarly, caregivers who were unaware of young child feeding practices (AOR of 3.6, 95% CI: 1.9-6.5) and early care-seeking and health practices (AOR of 2.5, 95% CI: 1.3-4.9) were more likely to engage in inappropriate health-seeking behaviour compared to those who were aware and we found that illness symptoms influenced health-seeking behaviour and that early disease detection might prevent severe illness. Health-seeking behaviour was found to be suboptimal among under-5 children in Chennai's urban slums. We suggest policymakers improve interventions on early care-seeking of common childhood illnesses in the urban health programme.

Nutritional status and morbidity pattern among school children in an urban slum of Kolkata, India

Background: Sickness and morbidity rates in Indian school going children are among the highest in the world. Poor health and sickness absenteeism results in school dropouts and it is more among the female children as compared to male children. Present study was conducted to study the nutritional status and morbidity pattern among children attending the school health clinics in an urban area of West Bengal India. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in the field practice area of urban health centres (UHC) of AIIH and PH Kolkata, West Bengal. Children enrolled in class 1-10 were included in the study by using systematic random sampling technique. Data was collected by using semi-structured questionnaire, clinical history and physical examination was done. Results: Out of total 254 students, 129 (50.8%) were boys and 125 (49.2%) were girls. Dental caries and skin diseases like ringworm infection, cuts and fungal infection were most common types of morbidity found in school children. Dental caries and skin diseases both were more common in girls as compared to the boys. Underweight was found in more than 70% of the children and their BMI was significantly low as compare to the ICMR standard. Conclusions: The proportion of malnutrition is very high in the school children of the field practice area of UHC Chetla and there is need to create opportunities to increase the family income and awareness programme to increase the nutritive values of foods prepared at household level.

Situational context of home-based sexual education in urban slums of Ibadan, Nigeria

Abstract Background Little is known about how events in slum settings interfere with informal sexual education in Nigeria. This study explores the influence of situational context on parent-adolescent communication about sexual and reproductive health (SRH) issues in the urban slums of Ibadan, Nigeria. Methods A qualitative exploratory study was conducted in the Southeast and Northeast local government areas of Ibadan. Eight (8) vignette-based focus group discussions (FGDs) with parents and adolescents of both sexes were conducted in addition to four (4) key informant interviews (KIIs) with community and women's leaders. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and translated into English. Descriptive and interpretative analyses were conducted with the aid of ATLAS Ti 9 software. Results Findings portray SRH meanings and experiences, intergenerational cultural norms, and expectations for SRH, gender double standards in SRH discussion, streetwise SRH knowledge, and social media exposure to SRH as contexts that interfere with parent-adolescent communication on SRH issues. The findings show that although parents and teenagers understood SRH issues and their consequences, there was no effective communication about them. Also, the conversation between parents and adolescents promotes gender inequalities as different SRH information is passed to adolescent girls and boys. Streetwise SRH knowledge was identified to impede effective parent-adolescent conversation on SRH issues. Social media exposure had a significant impact on where teenagers got their unfiltered SRH knowledge, interfering with and distorting SRH discussion between parents and adolescents. Conclusions Interventions that enable parents to give and allow their children early access to appropriate SRH knowledge, considering their context, are urgently needed. Key messages • The study emphasizes the need for tailored sexual education programs that are culturally sensitive, age-appropriate, and accessible to parents and children in urban slums. • The study highlights the absence of formal sexual education in schools and communities in urban slums of Ibadan, Nigeria.

Effect of handwashing on the reduction of Escherichia coli on children's hands in an urban slum Indonesia.

Poor hand hygiene practice has been linked to an increase in the number of infections among children in urban slums. Hands are considered an intersection for bacterial transmission, but it is unclear whether the handwashing technique affects bacteria elimination. This study investigated the effect of handwashing on the concentration of Escherichia coli (E. coli) and factors related to its reduction among children in an urban slum in Bandung, Indonesia. We observed handwashing and conducted repeated hand swabs before and after handwashing among 137 participants. The mean E. coli concentration on the hands decreased after handwashing, with a higher reduction in E. coli count among students who used soap and had soap contact for more than 10 s during handwashing. Cleaning in-between fingers, using soap, soap contact for more than 10 s, and drying hands with a single-use towel were effective factors for reducing E. coli concentration after handwashing (p < 0.05). More than half of the swab samples (59%) tested positive for E. coli after handwashing, indicating that the children's handwashing technique was not effective in completely removing E. coli from the hands. Moreover, sustained and consistent handwashing practice as a daily behavior in children would maximize the effect.

Educational Experiences of Slum and Migrant Children in Government Schools of Kathmandu Valley

Access to quality education remains a significant challenge for children living in slums and those migrating from Nepal’s interior regions. This study comprehensively examines the complex educational, social, and economic obstacles faced by students attending government/public schools in slum areas and children from low-income urban families. Employing a combination of quantitative and qualitative methodologies, including structured interviews and questionnaires, data were collected from 50 students responding to 21 thoughtfully prepared questions. Additionally, nine students were interviewed in-depth to further explore socio-economic and educational challenges. The findings reveal critical issues; notably, 42.1% of children cited a lack of management and discipline within public schools hindering their pursuit of quality education, with financial constraints affecting 44.7% of the student population. Encouragingly, 77.6% of students reported no instances of discrimination within their school environment. The surveyed respondents encompassed an age group spanning from 13 to 18 years. This research underscores the urgency of addressing educational disparities to ensure a brighter future for marginalized youth in Nepal.

Factors Leading to Conductive Hearing Loss among Children Living in Delhi Slum Areas

Background: Middle-ear diseases in children pose a significant burden to the healthcare system. Recurrent upper respiratory tract infections, cold, and cough often initiate middle ear disease. It results in mild to moderate hearing impairment that can be detrimental to the child's linguistic development. It can further lead to behavioural and cognitive problems. The study was designed to establish a relationship between common middle pathologies like CSOM and OME with hearing loss in children.&#x0D; Objective: To determine the prevalence of middle ear pathology and its association with hearing loss in slum children of Delhi.&#x0D; Methods: A study was conducted with 269 children aged five to ten years. The children were screened by otoscopic examination, followed by Tympanometry and then by Pure Tone Audiometry.&#x0D; Results: The prevalence of middle ear problems was 24.2%, out of which the prevalence of Chronic Suppurative Otitis Media (CSOM) was 10.8%, Otitis media with effusion (OME) was 12.3% and Acute Otitis Media (AOM) was 1.1%. A significant correlation (p&lt; 0.005) was found between hearing loss and middle ear pathology like CSOM and OME. Out of the 65 children with ear pathology, hearing loss was detected in 55 children, out of which 29 children with CSOM, moderated conductive hearing loss was detected in 28 children and out of 33 OME children, mild to moderate conductive hearing loss was detected in 26 children.&#x0D; Conclusion: The article highlights the high prevalence of middle ear pathology in underprivileged children. The study also concludes the high probability of conductive hearing loss in these children. It is recommended that there is more need for awareness for early detection and treatment of middle ear infection to avoid any language and behavioural problems in the future. Also, the disparity between children living in urban and rural areas needs to be bridged.

Prevalence of Gastrointestinal Parasites in Slum Children of Dhaka City: Comparison of Two Coprological Methods

The present study aimed to measure the prevalence of intestinal parasites among children with gastrointestinal tract infections from different slum areas of Dhaka. Furthermore, a comparison was made of the accuracy of direct smear (DS) and formol-ether concentration (FEC) techniques in the detection of infection. The overall prevalence of parasitic infection was 72.46% with a combined method. By direct smear, 2 species of protozoa (11.59%), 2 species of cestode (5.07%) and 4 species of nematode (18.12%) parasites were detected whereas by formol – ether concentration method, 5 species of protozoa (28.26%), 1 species of Trematode (1.44%), 2 species of cestode (17.39%) and 5 species of nematode (79.71%) parasites were detected. By direct smear (DS) and formol-ether concentration (FEC) the prevalence of intestinal parasites was 42% and 58% respectively. Ascaris lumbricoides was the most common parasite detected by both formol-ether concentration (37.68%) and direct smear method (7.97%). A statistically significant association (P &lt; 0.001) was found between the test methods, age groups and months with parasitic infection. Direct smear showed less sensitivity than formol-ether concentration technique (100%). The diagnostic performance of formol-ether technique for the diagnosis of intestinal parasites in slum children was remarkably higher as related to direct smear in the present study. Therefore, the DS and FEC combined techniques should be used as routine investigative techniques for the identification of intestinal parasites. Henceforth, it is advantageous to use the formol-ether method to complement the direct smear method. Bangladesh J. Zool. 50(3): 353-361, 2022

Feeding practices among under two years children in urban slum, Bengaluru: a cross sectional study

Background: Exclusive breastfeeding is the optimum method of feeding in first 6 months of life. It meets nutritional requirement of baby. There are practices of early introduction of top feeds and late introduction of semi-solid feed in urban slums in India. This study was conducted to assess feeding practices among under 2 years children in an urban slum area. Methods: A community based cross sectional study was conducted in one of the urban slums in Bengaluru among 190 caregivers of children aged from 6 months to 2 years from January 2023 to March 2023. Questionnaire was used to collect information regarding feeding practices and data was analysed using JAMOVI v2.3.26. Results: Among 155 (81.58%) of the mothers were literates, 97 (51.06%) belongs to class IV socioeconomic status. Regarding feeding practices, 65 (34.21%) of them initiated breastfeeding between 1-4 hours after delivery, 137 (72.11%) of them fed colostrum to the babies, pre-lacteal feeds were given in 46 (24.21%) of children, exclusive breastfeeding was done in 106 (55.79%) of babies. There was significant association between exclusive breastfeeding with caregivers’ socioeconomic status, type of family (p&lt;0.05). There was significant association between pre-lacteal feeds with mothers’ education status, socio-economic status (p&lt;0.05). Conclusions: There is a need for health education regarding importance of exclusive breastfeeding and ill-effects of pre-lacteal feeds. Sociodemographic factors also play an important role in these feeding practices. Hence government should take necessary steps to improve some of the demographic factors who are living in urban slums.