Underprivileged Children Research Articles

Lifetime benefits of musical training.

Lifetime benefits of musical training.

Hole-in-the-Wall learning stations and academic performance among rural children in India

Purpose – Earlier research on “Hole-in-the-Wall (HiWEL)” conclusively indicated groups of children pick up computer literacy on their own and are adept at performing basic functions such as cut, copy, paste, surf the internet to answer high-end questions. Research also indicates that children self-organize themselves to figure out things which they find difficult and thus learning is a continuous process for them. The studies have also indicated that HiWEL pedagogy is child centric and is at the discretion of the child. Children organize themselves and become self-regulated learners. However, so far no study has been undertaken to determine whether children accessing Hole-in-the-Wall learning stations (HiWEL LSs) can improve in mathematics and English. The intent of the present study is to examine whether groups of children are able to pick up mathematics and English on their own using the learning station. The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach – In order to study the impact of HiWEL LS on mathematics and English, the authors took two groups; experimental group and control group from six states. Experimental group – 31 children from each site (except for two sites, where experimental group consisted of 30 children) were randomly selected to be a part of the study. 16 children from class 6th and 15 children from class 7th were identified. For this study, the experimental group consisted of a total of 277 children from nine locations. Mathematics and English tests were administered at two time points, pre and post within a gap of six months of installing the learning station. Control group – children that formed the control group were selected from nearby villages with similar socioeconomic background as the experimental group. A total of 135 children (15 children per location) were selected for this study. This group did not have access to HiWEL LS or to any other computers. These children were also tested on the same two tests at two time points, pre and post within a gap of six months. Findings – Children exposed and using HiWEL LSs pick up academic English and mathematics on their own for grade 6th and 7th. These are government school going children. Qualitatively, the teachers and parents feel that they too have seen the benefits in the academic achievement of these children. Research limitations/implications – The study was done for a six-month period across seven sites. This study should be replicated over across entire India and a bigger sample should be taken for results to be conclusive. Practical implications – The actual quantity of schooling that underprivileged children experience and the quality of teaching they receive are extremely insufficient. This seems to be true of both the educationally more advanced states and the educationally backward states. These findings suggest a new pedagogy for enabling children to improve their academic performance which in turn leads to improvement in school performance. Thus, for the current educational system, it is important to have alternatives. Originality/value – So far, no study has been undertaken to determine whether children accessing HiWEL LSs can improve in mathematics and English. The intent of the present study is to examine whether groups of children are able to pick up mathematics and English on their own using the learning station. And, the findings have been positive.

Proximity of US schools to major roadways: a nationwide assessment

Long-term exposure to traffic pollution has been associated with adverse health outcomes in children and adolescents. A significant number of schools may be located near major roadways, potentially exposing millions of children to high levels of traffic pollution, but this hypothesis has not been evaluated nationally. We obtained data on the location and characteristics of 114,644 US public and private schools, grades prekindergarten through 12, and calculated their distance to the nearest major roadway. In 2005-2006, 3.2 million students (6.2%) attended 8,424 schools (7.3%) located within 100 m of a major roadway, and an additional 3.2 million (6.3%) students attended 8,555 (7.5%) schools located 100-250 m from a major roadway. Schools serving predominantly Black students were 18% (95% CI, 13-23%) more likely to be located within 250 m of a major roadway. Public schools eligible for Title I programs and those with a majority of students eligible for free/reduced price meals were also more likely to be near major roadways. In conclusion, 6.4 million US children attended schools within 250 m of a major roadway and were likely exposed to high levels of traffic pollution. Minority and underprivileged children were disproportionately affected, although some results varied regionally.

Helping Underprivileged Children Succeed

An after-school program encourages at-risk teens to stay in school by providing tutoring, therapy, and enrichment.

Parental income and child health in Japan

Previous studies have consistently found evidence of an income gradient in health among children in various countries, and studies in Anglo-Saxon countries have found that this gradient increases with child age. Using nationally representative individual-level data, I examine the association between child health and parental income in Japan. Japan has a child poverty rate that is similar to the rate of many countries that have been studied previously, but Japan outperforms those countries on most health indicators. I find that an income gradient exists in child health in Japan, but that it is limited to specific health measures and symptoms, and that it is weaker overall in that respect than the gradient found in other countries or among Japanese adults. Moreover, I find no evidence that the gradient increases with child age. The fact that children in low-income families have relatively modest and non-accumulating health disadvantages may contribute to the overall health of the Japanese population. Nevertheless, there is a statistically significant negative association between parental income and the incidences of asthma, hearing problems, and dental symptoms in children, implying that future efforts to improve the health of underprivileged children should focus on the prevention and control of these diseases.

Chemical Compositions and Nutritional Properties of Popcorn-Based Complementary Foods Supplemented With Moringa oleifera Leaves Flour

<p>Cereal gruel is the common complementary foods in developing countries, and it is usually low in energy and protein; hence, responsible for increase in protein-energy malnutrition among underprivileged weaning aged children. Several locally available food materials have been tested in combination for infant food formulations however; popcorn and <em>Moringa oleifera</em> leaves combination have not been used. After blanching and fermentation processing, popcorn and moringa leaves were milled into flour and blended to obtain, blanched popcorn-moringa leaves (BPM) (65% popcorn and 35% moringa leaves flour) and fermented popcorn-moringa leaves (FPM) (65% popcorn and 35% moringa leaves flour). Products were analyzed for chemical composition, functional properties and bioassay using standard methods. Protein content of FPM (21.27 ± 0.20 g/100 g) and BPM (15.99 ± 0.14 g/100 g) were higher than <em>Cerelac</em> (15.75 ± 0.01 g/100 g) and ‘Ogi’ (6.52 ± 0.31 g/100 g); while energy values of FPM (393.94 ± 0.39 kcal) and BPM (389.69 ± 1.40 Kcal) were lower than ‘Ogi’ (418.08 ± 0.47 kcal) and <em>Cerelac</em> (431.58 ± 0.01 kcal). Mineral contents of BPM were higher in zinc, iron, potassium, sodium and phosphorous, while FPM sample was higher in copper, calcium and magnesium, and were lower than <em>Cerelac</em>. Oxalate, phytate and trypsin inhibitor in FPM were lower than BPM. Biological value and protein efficiency ratio of FPM were higher than BPM and ‘Ogi’, but lower than <em>Cerelac</em>. The albino rats fed with the FPM had higher growth rate when compared with those rats fed with BPM sample and ‘Ogi’, but lower than those fed with <em>Cerelac</em>. Nutrient composition and nutritional profile of popcorn-moringa leaves based complementary foods could be used as substitutes for local complementary foods, which are low in protein and energy.</p>

Use of Skype to Educate Underprivileged Blind Children in India: Motivations, Barriers and Teaching Strategies

Purpose: The primary objective of the study was to explore the barriers that volunteers face and the strategies they employ when teaching blind children via Skype. It also attempted to understand the difference in methodologies used in teaching blind children and other underprivileged children. Method: In February and March 2013 an online survey was conducted with 8 volunteer teachers who work with two development programmes in South India, supported by the Ann Foundation, a non-government organisation based in New York, United States. Results: Volunteers find that teaching blind children through Skype is challenging as well as rewarding. Poor internet connectivity in the remote villages of the country is a major technical barrier. The interaction barriers are lack of advanced learning devices and specific teaching expertise to maintain the children’s interest in learning. Strategies to enhance learning among the blind children included the use of contemporary topics, fun activities, songs and storytelling. Conclusions: There are a unique set of barriers when teaching blind children through Skype. While most of these can be overcome with facilitatory learning approaches, volunteer teachers continue to struggle with the barriers of poor internet connectivity and reluctance on the part of blind students to participate in the class. Limitations: The sample size was small, numbering only 8 volunteers who, however, provided many insights. Since they were based in different parts of the world, it was not possible to conduct one-to-one interviews, which might have yielded more information.

An Analysis of Select Models of Rural Education in Developing Nations and Their Possible Applicability in India

This study conceptually analyses select rural education models which have been implemented successfully in various developing countries. The models chosen for the study possess distinct features- administrative, financial, academic as well as ideological- which have led them to achieve better qualitative standards in education for rural and underprivileged children. The paper points out those features which resonate the most with the Indian socio-economic scenario and discusses the possibility of applying the same in the Indian rural education system. The study is based on the review and analysis of secondary sources. The researcher has accessed scholarly articles,research papers, published reports and online literature for the study.

Ergonomic assessment and musculoskeletal health of the underprivileged school children in pune, India.

Musculoskeletal health in schoolchildren is a global health problem.The objective of the current study was to assess ergonomic behavior and musculoskeletal health in urban poor schoolchildren in Pune, India. Sixty-five (29 male students) slum dwelling schoolchildren were assessed for their ergonomics using a validated and reliable tool. Average age was 13 years. Out of 65 students, 36 reported presence of musculoskeletal pain. In addition, 78.5% had bad ergonomics when lifting books.Sitting posture was poor in 67.7%, while 50.8% demonstrated bad posture while using a computer. As far as the female students were concerned, it was seen that out of 36 students, 55.6% complained of presence of pain. Out of the 20 students who reported pain, 70% had a score lower than 7.5 on ergonomic score assessment (indicative of bad ergonomics). When the male students were considered, out of 29 students, 65.5% reported presence of pain. Out of the 19 students who reported pain, close to 79% demonstrated bad ergonomics. There is presence of musculoskeletal aches and pains in this underprivileged section of the society, including demonstration of bad ergonomics and postures while performing activities in school. Thus, musculoskeletal health problems exist in urban slum schoolchildren. It is important to identify health problems at an early stage in both boys and girls. Children are the future of the nation and hence, identification of health issues early in life and preventing them from becoming chronic is of utmost importance.

Alcanzando Niños en las Fronteras (Reaching Children Along the U.S./Mexico Border): A Program for Disadvantaged Children

The Alcanzando Niños en las Fronteras project brings together years of biofeedback, art therapy, and somatic education work with underprivileged and disadvantaged children. The program is designed to reach the most at-risk youth in Mexico: those children living in towns along the U.S./Mexico border. These towns are racked with violence due to the drug wars, and the children in these towns are especially susceptible to being led into illegal activities. In cooperation with Sonoma State University, the U.S. State Department, the Government of Mexico, Rotary International, and a number of other organizations, the program will train more than 200 medical doctors in noninstrumental biofeedback methods, including art therapy, music, somatic training, autogenic breathing, temperature control, and reading. By reaching children early and educating families in prevention and health, the program will have a lasting impact on reducing illegal activities and bringing about true social change.

Iron Deficiency Anemia: A Common and Curable Disease

Iron deficiency anemia arises when the balance of iron intake, iron stores, and the body's loss of iron are insufficient to fully support production of erythrocytes. Iron deficiency anemia rarely causes death, but the impact on human health is significant. In the developed world, this disease is easily identified and treated, but frequently overlooked by physicians. In contrast, it is a health problem that affects major portions of the population in underdeveloped countries. Overall, the prevention and successful treatment for iron deficiency anemia remains woefully insufficient worldwide, especially among underprivileged women and children. Here, clinical and laboratory features of the disease are discussed, and then focus is placed on relevant economic, environmental, infectious, and genetic factors that converge among global populations.

Nonformal Education in Improving Quality of Life of Underprivileged Children

This study explores the role of Non-formal Primary Education (NFPE) in improving the quality of the life of underprivileged children in Bangladesh considering their economic, health, environmental issues and life skills. It uses a mixed method approach of research where three NGOs which run NFPE programs were selected purposefully. Data were derived from six NGO officers, nine teachers, ninety students and eighteen guardians by using two sets of questionnaires for NGO officers and teachers, an interview schedule for guardians and 9 focus group discussions with the students. The findings show that there is no income generating program initiated by the organizations for the learners along with education. So, the scope of their income has reduced. But their daily life behavior and skills have improved. Besides, their awareness on health and environmental issues have increased. The findings lead to some recommendations which will give insights to policy makers and professionals engaged in this field.

Challenges for marginalized minority parents in different welfare systems: Child welfare workers’ perspectives

This article explores the challenges that marginalized minority parents face raising their children in England, Norway and the United States. While there are similar patterns of challenges across the three countries, such as cultural differences, including lack of language proficiency and knowledge of the society and systems, cross-country differences seem primarily to correspond to different systems of welfare aims and services. We discuss the implications of these findings on underprivileged minority children.

Nutritional Status for less‐explored micronutrients in underprivileged Guatemalan preschool children: Vitamin B12

BackgroundIron, vitamin A, iodine, zinc and folate are prominent on the public health nutrition agenda. Marginal or deficient vit B12 status was reported in 68% of peri‐urban Guatemalan lactating mothers and 49% of the infants.ObjectiveTo assess vit B12 status in a convenience sample of 3–6 y/o preschoolers in disadvantaged urban and rural communities receiving subsidized meals.Methods104 serum samples were obtained from boys and girls in 3 sites in the Central Highlands of Guatemala, 47 from 2 urban (U) centers and 57 from a rural (R) center. Circulating levels of vit B12 were measured by a chemiluminescent enzyme immunoassay method (Immulite 1000, Siemens, IL). Respective cutoff criteria for deficient and marginal for vit B12 were <200 pg/mL and 200–300 ng/mL. The contribution of dietary vit B12 from center menus was estimated.ResultsOverall mean vit B12 concentration (pg/mL) was 459±271 (median: 357): 583±294 (median: 527)(U) and 339±181 (median: 289)(R) (p<0.001). Globally, 8.6% had deficient and 26.9% had marginal values, for a 35.6% subnormal prevalence. Deficient plus marginal rates by setting were 10.6% (U) and 56.0% (R), respectively, with all 9 deficient subjects of rural origin. The 1 or 2 meals offered by the centers provided averages of 0.15 – 1.50 μg vit B12/d.ConclusionSlightly over one‐third of preschoolers had low vit B12 status, with a marked excess of low status in the rural setting.

Nutritional Status for less‐explored micronutrients in underprivileged Guatemalan preschool children: Vitamins D

BackgroundWhereas iron, vitamin A, iodine, zinc and folate are prominent on the public health nutrition agenda, vitamin D has been lower on the interest horizon. Particular dietary or environmental characteristics of Guatemala may predispose to insufficient or deficient nutrient status.ObjectiveTo assess vit D status in a convenience sample of preschoolers in disadvantaged urban and rural communities receiving subsidized meals.Methods104 serum samples were obtained from boys and girls meals in 3 sites in the Central Highlands of Guatemala, 47 from 2 urban (U) centers and 57 from a rural (R) center. Serum 25(OH)D was measured on a Liaison instrument (DiaSorin, Inc., Stillwater, MN) using a chemiluminescent assay in Omaha, Nebraska. Respective cutoff criteria for deficient and insufficient for 25(OH)D were <20 and 20–30 ng/mL. The contribution of dietary vit D from center menus was estimated.ResultsOverall mean 25(OH)D concentration (ng/mL) was 26±6, 27±6 (U) and 25±7 (R) (p>0.05). Globally, 20.2% had deficient values and 56.7% had insufficient values. Deficiency rates by setting were 12.7% (U) and 26.0% (R), and insufficiency rates, 59.6% (U) and 54.4% (R). The 1 or 2 meals offered by the centers provided averages of 0.12–0.90 μg vit D/d.ConclusionSub‐adequate vit D status is a common feature of preschoolers in day‐care center populations, without geographic distinction, related in part to low dietary intakes.

New education for underprivileged children: the codification of children’s rights in Japanese law

This article examines the educational concepts that were pursued for the benefit of underprivileged children in the era of the New Education Movement. Children’s rights in Japanese modernity, as represented by the struggle to apply New Education principles to underprivileged children, are contrasted with the conventional view of childhood in the Japanese tradition. The crucial piece of legal reform that first established children’s rights, the Reformatory Law of 1900, is found to derive mostly from a mix of American science and metaphysics based on Japanised Christianity.

School-based teachers’ professional development through technology-enhanced learning in Bangladesh

To promote significant pedagogical change, the most successful teacher education programmes for the global south happen in the school context. This paper is based on a pre-pilot intervention study of an international education development programme in Bangladesh. Technology-enhanced learning, in this case the use of the Apple® iPod® (iPod touch®), was used to support teachers’ teaching and learning in their school contexts. This paper presents evidence to demonstrate how such school-based technology-enhanced support systems impact on classroom practice and help teachers’ professional development. Using the case of a pre-pilot intervention in the Underprivileged Children’s Educational Programs schools, it explores the teachers’ professional development by analysing interviews with the teachers who were participating in the pre-pilot intervention programme, and draws the conclusion from the collected data that school-based teachers’ professional development through technology-enhanced learning is contributing significantly to in-service training in a resource-constrained context.

Bringing chemistry to life using real-life science stories

It is vital that we now engage young people in science to ensure a strong supply of scientists in the future. Evidence shows that the earlier you can capture their imaginations, the better, to avoid students being turned off science by secondary school. This article describes the strategies I've developed to help bring chemistry to life for everyone – even young under-privileged children.

Moving from a “Flood Our School” to an “Islands of Success” Conception in the Process of Advancing Underprivileged Children

Policy makers in education do not perceive the education system as a unique discipline, but rather judge it using terms appropriate for the world of economics. Methods of analysis and decision-making that exist in the world of economics are implemented in the field of education. This reality was the basis for the authors’ research on the integration of technological systems for the advancement of students which was conducted as part of their desire to understand processes of change in learning systems. It became clear that in order to succeed in the process of integrating innovative technological systems in the schools, society should not “flood the schools” with technology, but should rather use the “islands of success method.”

Health Disparities in Sleep Medicine: Responses to the American Sleep Medicine Foundation Humanitarian Projects Award Program

Health Disparities in Sleep Medicine: Responses to the American Sleep Medicine Foundation Humanitarian Projects Award Program