Parental Understanding Research Articles

Prevalence of cyberbullying and associated factors among adolescents in Dubai schools: complex design survey – 2019

ABSTRACT Cyberbullying is a recognized public health threat with established links to physical and mental health problems. A 2-stage stratified random cluster analysis of data from a self-administered survey on health-related behaviours including 1,683 adolescents from 28 government and private schools estimated the prevalence of cyberbullying and examined potentially related psychological and behavioural factors. We identified loneliness, sleep disturbances, loss of appetite, sadness, lack of parental understanding, tobacco use, school absenteeism, and physical fights as associated factors. However, logistic regression found statistically significant higher odds only for experiencing sadness and loneliness, school absenteeism and physical fights, indicating reduction in these factors as the primary goals of comprehensive cyberbullying prevention programs to protect the health and wellbeing of adolescent.

Factors that influence parental satisfaction with SDF treatment in healthy children and those with special healthcare needs

PurposeSilver diamine fluoride (SDF) is used as a caries management agent for the arrest of dentinal caries lesions. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the satisfaction with SDF treatment provided at a university pediatric dentistry clinic and to identify factors that may contribute to parental dissatisfaction.MethodsWe obtained retrospective data of children who received SDF treatment at our clinic from 1 February 2019 to 28 February 2021. Parents were contacted by phone to participate in a survey that evaluated their satisfaction with the treatment. Satisfaction was evaluated as a function of medical status, ease of treatment, outcome of SDF treatment, esthetics, and understanding of treatment goals and side effects using contingency tables and chi-square statistics.ResultsFrom 209 children who received SDF treatment, we were able to contact 91 parents by telephone, and 79 agreed to participate. Special healthcare needs (SHCN) patients were overrepresented in our sample, comprising 22.3% of all treated and 36.7% of participants. More than 90% were satisfied with the treatment, would do it again and would recommend it to others. Among the 49 children who complained of pain, SDF treatment resolved 82% of these complaints. In the subsample with follow-up in our clinic, approximately half of the treated teeth later received restorative treatment or were extracted, and the other half presented without further treatment. Some children received further treatment elsewhere. Parental dissatisfaction was related to staining of the anterior teeth (p = 0.04), the need for further treatment (p = 0.02) and a lesser understanding of side effects (p = 0.002).ConclusionMost parents were satisfied with SDF therapy as a dental treatment choice due to its easy application and desensitizing effects. Our findings indicate that parental understanding of the interim nature of the treatment and staining of the lesions is important to achieve parental satisfaction.

Perspectives of women and partners from migrant and refugee backgrounds accessing the Cross Cultural Worker Service in maternity and early childhood services—a survey study

BackgroundWomen from migrant and refugee backgrounds living in high-income countries have increased risk of adverse perinatal outcomes and report lower satisfaction with perinatal healthcare. In Sydney, Australia, a new service known as the Cross Cultural Workers (CCWs) in Maternity and Child and Family Health Service (the CCW Service) was implemented to support such women and families from pregnancy to the early parenting period. This study aimed to ascertain the experiences of women and their partners engaging with the CCW Service.MethodsA survey study was undertaken. Women accessing the CCW Service were recruited during pregnancy and were asked to complete surveys at three time points: in the third trimester of pregnancy, at 6 and 12 months postpartum. Their partners were invited to complete a survey at 6 months postpartum. Survey data were analysed to compare satisfaction, usefulness, number of CCW interactions, cultural sensitivity, and service improvement recommendations across all three survey timepoints.ResultsA total of 231 surveys were received: 113 during pregnancy, 50 at 6-months postpartum, 44 at 12-months postpartum, and 24 partner surveys. Participants in all surveys reported the CCW Service to be useful (84–94%), stating that it increased their understanding of pregnancy, birth and parenting (95–100%), and that they would recommend the CCW Service (92–98%). Participants experienced a high level of satisfaction (88–95%) irrespective of the number of CCW interactions (p = 0.42). Thoughts on becoming a mother or parent were more positive after meeting the CCW than before for both women (p = 0.01) and partners (p = 0.12). Suggestions for CCW Service improvement were to 1) increase the provision of information, specifically financial entitlements, postnatal depression, and support services, 2) increase involvement of partners in care, 3) increase the CCW workforce/or number of CCWs.ConclusionThe CCW Service was associated with positive experiences and high rates of satisfaction at all timepoints. This service has the potential to inform the implementation of similar models of care that improve accessibility, the perinatal experience, and respond to the unique needs of women and families from migrant and refugee backgrounds.

Parent Involvement to Enhance Students’ Learning in Lingmethang Cluster Schools of Bhutan

Research has consistently demonstrated the influential role of parental involvement in the academic success and overall well-being of students at various grade levels. This paper synthesizes and analyzes findings from a multitude of studies that underscore the significance of parents' active participation in their children's education.
 Parental involvement and parent-school partnership strategies are critical factors to children’s academic success. In this qualitative case study, parents’, teachers’, and administrators’ perceptions of parental involvement and parent-school partnership strategies were examined in Lingmethang cluster schools under Mongar District, Bhutan. The study also focused on exploring the parents’ understanding of their involvement in schooling processes based on the six typologies of Epstein.
 This study adopted a qualitative case study employing interview, observation and document analysis tools. A purposeful sampling method was used in the study. Nine parents, nine teachers, and nine administrators participated in the study. Data was collected and analyzed. The findings revealed that most parents are more involved in non-academic activities than academic activities. Barriers that parents, teachers, and administrators encountered in relation to school involvement and support are also noted. It was perceived that parental, school, and community involvement were important for children’s academic success and that parent-school partnerships and support were critically necessary.
 By synthesizing and critically examining these findings, this paper contributes to a better understanding of the vital role parents play in shaping the educational journey of their children. It emphasizes the importance of fostering strong partnerships between schools and families to promote student success and holistic development. The implications of the research findings are also suggested for future research.

Parents' experiences of parenting a child with profound intellectual and multiple disabilities in France: A qualitative study.

Parents of persons with profound intellectual and multiple disabilities (PIMD) play a major and often lifelong role in the care and support of their child. A better understanding of parents' perspectives regarding their experiences of parenting their child with PIMD is essential to support them more effectively. Although this topic has been explored extensively in Anglo-Saxon and Northern European countries, little is known about the experience of these parents in a highly institutionalized context such as that in France. We explored parents' experiences of the activities they performed to care for their child with PIMD (namely, the 'parenting work') in the French context. Qualitative semistructured interviews were conducted by telephone with 34 parents of persons with PIMD aged 8-35. The resulting data were analyzed using thematic analysis. The analysis highlighted the diversity of activities performed by parents as well as the influence of context on the forms of this parenting work. Five themes were developed: (1) navigating the challenges of obtaining medical recognition; (2) negotiating a concealed domain and becoming an expert; (3) unfolding medical and medicosocial care management; (4) navigating the challenges of daily living and (5) shaping one's child's possibilities. This study offers a better understanding of the challenges, levers and expectations of parents of children with PIMD in France. Contextual factors such as the lack of knowledge of PIMD among health professionals, access to knowledge and know-how associated with care management, the administrative complexity of access to care and equipment, institutional issues (e.g., professional turnover) and societal ableism (e.g., access to infrastructures, interpersonal discrimination) shape the work parents perform to support their child's needs. It is necessary to consider contextual aspects to better support these parents and their children. Suggestions for applications are provided in the discussion. One of the researchers, a parent of a child with PIMD, supported the research design and provided feedback on the study's procedures and manuscript.

Caregivers' knowledge and medication adherence in children with thyroid disorders: an exploratory study.

Many thyroid disorders in children demand long-term therapy. The parent's understanding of the child's condition is of utmost importance for adherence to treatment. The study objective was to assess the knowledge, medication adherence, reasons for non-adherence, and their relationship with various clinical parameters. An exploratory, cross-sectional study with a total enumeration sampling technique was conducted between July 2022 and September 2022. Children and young adults aged≤18 years who were diagnosed with a thyroid disorder and taking medications for at least 3months were included. Data were collected by interviewing parents using the Adherence to Refills and Medications Scale (ARMS) and structured knowledge questionnaire. Parents of 102 children were interviewed. The mean age of the children was 9.2±0.4 years; 58 (57 %) were girls. The mean duration of treatment was 5.5±0.3 years. Many (66 %) informants were mothers. Three-fourths (75.5 %) of parents were educated up to senior secondary and above. Most (91.2 %) of parents had poor knowledge about the disease and its management. Poor disease knowledge was significantly linked to lower education (p<0.001). Nonetheless, strong adherence (>80 %) was noted on the ARMS scale. No significant correlation was found between physical growth, thyroid function, and adherence/knowledge (p-values 0.20-0.71). The caregivers' knowledge of thyroid disorders was poor and related to their educational level. There is a need to use clear language and ensure that parents have an adequate understanding of their child's condition. Healthcare professionals should assess and address gaps in parental knowledge and adherence.

Parental Knowledge of Appendicitis and Its Management Options Among Children of Makkah Region, Saudi Arabia.

Despite decades of studies, appendicitis in children still presents several uncertainties regarding optimal treatment. To assess parental understanding of appendicitis, along with its risks and treatment, and to determine attitudes to operative and non-operative treatment of uncomplicated appendicitis. This is a cross-sectional study. The current study has targeted all parents who visited the pediatric outpatient departments or clinics at three different hospitals in Makkah and Jeddah City, including Maternity and Children Hospital (MCH) in Makkah, King Fahad Armed Force Hospital (KFAFH), and Saudi German Private Hospital (SGH) in Jeddah. Data was collected via an online Google form and was analyzed by using SPSS. A total of 408 subjects were involved in this study. The majority of them were females (74.5%); 25.5% weremales. Most of the study participants aged between 25 and 34 years. Our results found that the average knowledge score of the study population was 4.1±1.81 out of 11. Only 23.5%of them had good knowledge about appendicitis. More than half of the respondents identified the appendix as a part of the digestive system and most of the study population were aware of the currenttreatment for appendicitis, which is surgery (80.9%). Female participants and respondents who knew someone that has been treated for appendicitis were significantly associated with a better level of knowledge about appendicitis (P-values: 0.011 and 0.033, respectively). Moreover, we found that educational level significantly influenced preference for treatment with antibiotics and surgeryif appendicitis happened again (P-value: 0.049). The study population had poor knowledge of appendicitis and its management options. The highlighted criteria of self-reported relevance to parents should be addressed in all appendicitis counseling and consent. We advocate for the establishment of national public awareness campaigns, as well as increased research and clinical trials. Understanding lay views of treatment alternatives and efficacy will influence future approaches to appendicitis therapy by analyzing the community's preference for emerging treatment modalities and identifying future directions for patient-centered clinical trials.

NAP Trainning Guna Optimalisasi Tumbuh Kembang Anak Pada Pra Sekolah di TK Satu Atap Ketompen Pajarakan

Sleeping for a child is as important as eating, drinking and playing, because many children neglect their sleep time because they play on their cellphones. This community service aims to increase parents' knowledge and understanding about NAP Training in order to optimize the growth and development of pre-school age children. This activity is carried out using counseling and training methods for mothers who have pre-school age children with the material presented including the concept of sleep, sleep time according to age, benefits of sleep, sleeping techniques and methods for children, the concept of growth and development, children's growth and development according to age stages. . The activities were carried out at the One Roof Kindergarten in Ketompen Village which was attended by 41 mothers. The results obtained were truly extraordinary where almost all participants (97%) were able to answer the questions asked.

Violations of the heart: Parental harm in war and oppression

AbstractThis article examines ‘parental harm’ – a harm that occurs when a parent loses or faces the threat of losing a child. We contend that the manipulation and severing of relationships between parents and children has played a central role in war and oppression across historical contexts. Parental harm has long-term and pervasive effects and results in complex legacies for carers and their communities. Despite its grave impact, there is little research within International Relations into parental harm and understanding of its effects. We conceptualise parental harm through two frames – the ‘harm of separation’ and ‘harm to the ability to parent’ – and theorise gendered dimensions of how it is perpetuated and experienced. As such, we advance feminist understandings of family as a gendered institution that shapes the conduct of war and institutionalises racialised oppression. Our conception of parental harm offers novel insights into the relationship between intimate relations, the family, and state power and practices. We illustrate our conceptual arguments through two examples: the control and manipulation of family in antebellum slavery in the United States and the targeting of Tamil children in disappearances in Sri Lanka. These examples demonstrate the pervasiveness of parental harm across contexts and forms of violence.

Did the COVID‐19 pandemic make better parents? A qualitative exploration of parents' experiences during a historic period

AbstractObjectiveTo explore through the lens of the theoretical framework whether parents achieved any forms of improved parenting during the pandemic; in what way parents improved, if any; and what led to improved parenting.BackgroundThe COVID‐19 pandemic and its repercussions gave rise to multiple challenges and hardships confronting children and parents. The ways parents handled the parenting demands varied. The research documented the presence of both unhealthy and nurturing parenting behaviors during the pandemic. During this course in which parents responded to the parenting demands, some facets of parenting (e.g., parenting practices, parenting cognitions) were subject to change. The current study placed the focus on positive parental changes, if any.MethodThe study employed a phenomenological approach. Fourteen parents (female = 12; White = 8; Black = 4, and Asian = 2; 11 of 14 were upper‐ to lower‐middle‐class families) constituted the sample. One‐on‐one semistructured interviews were conducted over Zoom for data collection. Thematic analysis was performed for data analysis.ResultsFour themes were constructed: targeted parental responses and changes, refined parenting skills and practices, enhanced understanding of parenting, and unsettled parenting styles.ConclusionSome parents achieved improved parenting (e.g., refined parenting skills, a new understanding of childrearing). Whether and to what extent parents bettered themselves were conditional on whether and how far parents went to adapt or adjust their parenting.ImplicationAlthough substantially improving parenting skills appears to be difficult, parents can still bring benefits to family by bettering themselves incrementally. Practitioners need to be a source of reinvigoration for parents who aim to improve their parenting and family equilibrium, particularly in the context of a crisis.

Parents' Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice Regarding Febrile Convulsion in Children in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Background Fever is a common presentation in pediatric age groups and is the most common reason for healthcare visits. Parents' knowledge is essential for early presentation to healthcare facilities and to prevent possible complications. Studies suggest that febrile convulsions (FCs) often cause stress and anxiety for parents, who often assume it may cause brain damage, future epilepsy attacks, mental retardation, physical injury, and even death. This study aims to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practices of FCs among parents. Methodology This cross-sectional study was conducted among parents living in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, with children younger than 14 years of age. A self-administered questionnaire was distributed among the selected population using an online survey. The questionnaire included socio-demographic data, family experiences of FC, practice toward a child with FC, and questions assessing knowledge, attitude, and concerns. Results Of the 415 recruited parents, 350 (84.3%) were mothers, and 56.4% were government employees. Regarding monthly income, 172 (41.4%) were earning more than 15,000 SAR per month. The prevalence of parents with having a child with FC was 33%. Overall, 369 (88.9%) had poor knowledge, 41 (9.9%) had moderate knowledge, and only five (1.2%) had good knowledge levels. Regarding attitude, more than one-third (200, 35.2%), had a negative attitude, 205 (49.4%) were neutral, and the rest had positive attitude levels (64, 15.4%). Increased knowledge and attitude toward FC were associated with having a child or siblings of a child with FC. Regarding the practice and the plan of action for future FC occurrence, the most common was to rush the child to a doctor (94, 68.6%), followed by lowering the child's body temperature (78, 56.9%), and placing the child on his/her side (54, 39.4%). Conclusions There was an optimistic attitude toward a child with FC but knowledge was deficient. However, parents who had a child or siblings experiencing FC were more knowledgeable, while parents with higher education and better income tended to exhibit better attitudes when managing a child with FC. Further investigations are needed to establish the level of understanding and perspectives of parents when managing a child with FC.

Chinese Neonatal Nurses' Lived Experiences of Providing End-of-Life Care in the NICU: A Descriptive Phenomenological Study.

Although end-of-life care (EOLC) has been well-studied, the experience of neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) nurses in China, where little EOLC training is provided, requires further investigation. To explore the lived experience of EOLC delivery among NICU nurses, to provide evidence to enhance nurses' EOLC skills and improve their overall quality. This qualitative study adopted a phenomenological approach. A total of 11 NICU nurses participated in semistructured in-depth interviews between June and July 2022 at the First Affiliated Hospital of University of Science and Technology of China (USTC). Colaizzi's 7-step method was used to analyze the data. Five main themes were identified: (a) multiple emotions are experienced during EOLC delivery; (b) EOLC delivery is stressful from various sources for nurses; (c) expressing empathy and compassion is important; (d) ethical and clinical decision-making are key components of EOLC delivery; and (e) there are challenges in improving neonatal EOLC understanding and delivery. The experience of EOLC among Chinese NICU nurses is multidimensional and intensive. Institutions or units must establish and implement related protocols and guidelines to address differences between clinical practice and ideal protocols for neonatal EOLC. Educational programs that consider nurses' personal and interpersonal factors, including local culture, must be developed. Neonatal nurses in Western countries encountering Chinese-born parents who have lost their infants can gain an understanding of parents' perceptions from this study. Future research should focus on developing and testing interventions to train and support NICU nurses working with end-of-life neonates.

Latent sibling violence

This article analyses latent violence to highlight important aspects of our empirical data: qualitative interviews with women who have been subjected to violence by their siblings. The concept points to the fear experienced by victims in close relationships, and the adaptations they make to avoid violence. Although the concept has been applied to family and intimate partner violence, it is also useful to describe sibling violence. Latent violence occurs when violence is not openly acknowledged; indeed, sibling violence often goes unnoticed. This invisibility can be associated with experiences of powerlessness and unpredictability for victims, who may have difficulty defining their experiences. While we emphasize the vulnerability described in the interviews, we also highlight and explore the interviewees’ strategies of resistance. Our interviewees describe how they created alternative safe spaces in spite of the violent context in which they lived, including the use of hideouts and secret refuges, outdoor places as well as fantasy spaces or escape plans. Their strategies show that children subject to latent sibling violence should be understood not as passive victims, but as actively strategizing to cope with situations that many cannot escape due to their age and lack of parental understanding.

SOSIALISASI PARENTING PENDIDIKAN SEKS BAGI ORANG TUA ANAK BERKEBUTUHAN KHUSUS DI SLB NEGERI I KOTA PARE PARE SULAWESI SELATAN

The objective of this community service activity is to conduct a comprehensive study aimed at enhancing the understanding of parents with children with special needs at SLB Negeri 1 Pare-Pare City, South Sulawesi. The study specifically focuses on the challenges faced by parents in comprehending the changes in their children with special needs during the transition from childhood to adolescence. The behavior and needs of children with special needs during adolescence are similar to those of children without special needs. Almost all children with special needs do not encounter issues with their body growth and development, including when they enter puberty. One of the responsibilities of parents is to provide an understanding of sex, along with guidance on how to protect themselves from sexual harassment and violence. To encourage parents of children with special needs to assist their children in understanding these issues, socialization is conducted along with simple exercises in parenting sex education for parents of children with special needs. The method used involves lectures and question-and-answer sessions on simple sex parenting exercises, with 22 parents participating. The results obtained after this activity show an increase in sexual parenting knowledge, as evidenced by the pre-test and post-test results. There was an 85.7% increase in the knowledge of the training participants, with a noticeable average improvement. This suggests that it may be recommended to expand the scope of service material with more complex exercises.

Guardian willingness to vaccinate adolescent daughters against human papillomavirus for cervical cancer prevention in hard-to-reach communities in Mandera County, Kenya

Background: Cervical cancer is the fourth most frequent disease in women, and in 2020, there was an estimated 604,127 new cases and 342,831 fatalities worldwide. Despite the fact that cervical cancer can be easily treated if detected early, Sub-Saharan Africa suffers the greatest incidence of cervical cancer morbidity and mortality. The purpose of this study was to ascertain parents' readiness to protect teenage girls from Human Papillomavirus. Methods: The study used a cross-sectional descriptive strategy conducted among guardians of adolescent girls in rural area in Mandera. A simple random sampling technique was adopted and data was collected through key informant interviews, focus group discussions, and pretested interviewer-administered questionnaires. Results: The study's findings demonstrated that while parental understanding of the HPV vaccine was low in our study area, parental awareness was high. This resulted in low parental acceptance of the HPV vaccine, which in turn resulted in low uptake. The study participants' degree of vaccination acceptance was low (30%), with the majority showing hesitation (54%). Socio-cultural factors and religion were identified as the main barriers to HPV vaccine acceptance among the participants. Conclusions: The findings of our study demonstrate that although guardians in the research area had a high level of awareness of the HPV vaccine, there was poor uptake of the vaccine due to low knowledge and sociocultural reasons. Despite the fact that these services were both ample and accessible.

Role of Stakeholders’ Collaboration in Eliminating Child Labor: A Case of Indonesia’s Agriculture Sector

The goal of international labor Organization is to eliminate all forms of child labor since at the year of 2016 and it still needs to be supported until today. The aim of this program is to show how stakeholders’ collaboration and coordination have been focusing on the contribution and their roles to the reduction of child labor. The combination between field observation and interview to 20 NGO’s directors and field operating managers is the method used in this program. Although the collaboration’s efforts and the intervention of the stakeholders have been discussed in previous papers, however, its connection with socio- political view from NGO’s network perspectives and NGO’s network salience have not been sufficiently revealed, particularly in agriculture sector in Indonesia. The finding shows that the collaboration effects the capacity of network members through strengthening partnership for action against child labor, increasing the awareness and understanding of parents and farmers regarding child labor and its regulation, and developing a model of child-friendly village. This program has an implication to advocate for more supportive policies on child labor elimination and technical support for stakeholders both at national as well as regional level

Analysis of Forms of Collaboration between Islamic Religious Education Teachers and Students' Parents

Purpose of the study: The purpose of this study is to find out and analyze what collaboration is carried out between Islamic religious education teachers and parents in instilling character values in students, and identify the constraints in carrying out collaboration between Islamic religious education teachers and parents.&#x0D; Methodology: Methods of data collection in this study using observation, interviews, and documentation. The data processing and analysis techniques go through three stages, namely data reduction, data presentation, and drawing conclusions.&#x0D; Main Findings: The results of the study showed that the forms of cooperation that existed between Islamic Religious Education teachers and parents varied, namely parenting classes, class forums, WhatsApp groups, contact books, direct meetings between teachers and parents, and home visits. The obstacle factors faced certainly vary in each collaboration carried out such as the absence of parents, the lack of understanding of parents in educating students, and the lack of openness from parents to teachers in problems faced by students.&#x0D; Novelty/Originality of this study: he learned about the novelty of this research about Collaboration Between Islamic Religious Education Teachers and Parents in Instilling Character Values in Students in Elementary Schools.

Managing mothers' and fathers' uncertainty during their journey through early neurodevelopmental follow-up for their high-risk infants-A qualitative account.

Early diagnosis of cerebral palsy is possible by 5 months corrected age for 'at-risk' infants, using diagnostic tools such as the Hammersmith Infant Neurological Examination (HINE), Prechtl's General Movements Assessment (GMA) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). This is an uncertain and stressful time for parents where provision of appropriate information and support is essential. To explore parents' views and experiences in relation to the new early neurodevelopmental follow-up of 'at-risk' infants. Thirteen in-depth one-to-one qualitative interviews were conducted by the primary researcher, with eight parents (six mothers and two fathers) of 'at-risk' infants eligible for a follow-up clinic where the GMA and HINE were performed at 12-week corrected age. Interviews used a pre-piloted topic guide and took place before and after the clinic. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed using inductive coding and thematic analysis using the framework approach. Seven themes were identified: (1) attempting to manage uncertainty, (2) taking priority, (3) trusting professionals, (4) independence in the parent role, (5) feeling understood, (6) patterns of care and (7) individuality. Parents reported experiencing uncertainty about their current situation and future. Adequate preparation for and timing of information are vital. When uncertainty is poorly managed, parents' wellbeing suffers. Individual parents' perspectives and infants' developmental trajectories differ, and information should be tailored specifically for this. A parent's understanding of the journey through neurodevelopmental care for their high risk infants is initially very limited. Implementing a counselling service for parents to access psychological support and digital reminder system for clinic appointments, as well as providing more tailored information through trusted professionals, could all improve future parents' experiences.

Parents' Knowledge of and Attitude toward Acute Otitis Media and Its Treatment in Children: A Survey at Primary Healthcare Centers in the Aseer Region.

Acute otitis media (AOM) in children aged 5 years old and younger poses a critical health concern, affecting both the general health of children and the emotional well-being of parents. The objective of this study was to evaluate parental understanding, attitudes, and experiences related to AOM and its management, including the use of antibiotics without physician prescription. A cross-sectional study was carried out during the months of May and June of 2023. To collect data for this study, a validated questionnaire was converted into a Google form and given to parents of children aged 5 years and younger who sought healthcare for their children in primary healthcare centers in Abha city, Aseer region, Saudi Arabia. A total of 406 parents participated in this study, 64.8% of them were women and 45.3% of them were in the age range of 25 to 34 years. The majority (90.1%) resided in urban areas and a significant proportion (72.2%) had a university education. Among the respondents, 22.7% agreed that bacteria are the cause of AOM, while 21.7% agreed that it is caused by viruses. A total of 51.0% acknowledged the need for antibiotics in the management of AOM. In terms of treatment, 84.5% and 83.5% believed that analgesics and antibiotics, respectively, were the most effective for otalgia. A substantial portion, 43.1%, 34.7%, and 37.7%, respectively, believed that antibiotics could reduce pain, relieve fever, and prevent recurrence. Almost three-quarters sought medical advice primarily from paediatricians and 37.7% obtained information about AOM from the Internet. Furthermore, almost a third (28.8%) chose not to wait for the physician's appointment and immediately administered antibiotics without the physician's prescription due to concerns about disease progression. Approximately two fifths (38.4%) requested physicians to prescribe antibiotics, a pattern that was in agreement with the actual rate of antibiotic prescriptions (38.4%). A notable deficiency in knowledge and unsafe practices about AOM and its management is evident among parents in the Aseer region. This underscores the pressing need for an educational program aimed at improving parental health literacy regarding otitis media causes and treatments, as well as its preventive measures.

Children's understanding of financial literacy and parents' choice of financial knowledge learning methods in Malaysia

Financial literacy is an essential lifelong skill that should be taught to children at any age. It holds the key to develop a generation of adults who are knowledgeable about money and the economy. Additionally, OECD (2018) suggests that using digital tools could significantly enhance financial literacy and well-being. Therefore, this paper aims to:(i)assess the financial literacy level of primary school children in the northern region of Malaysia and(ii)explore interactive and engaging methods for teaching financial literacy.The sample size was determined using Krejcie and Morgan's (1970) approach, resulting in 419 primary school students aged 7 to 12 and their parents. An online questionnaire was employed, and multi-regression analysis was conducted.The findings highlighted those primary students displayed a high level of financial literacy, scoring above 80 % on the questionnaire. Furthermore, parents expressed a preference for their children to enroll in personal finance subjects offered by schools, have financial assignments or activities at school, and engage in online financial games. The study emphasized the crucial roles of schools, teachers, and active parental involvements to enhance financial literacy. This study recommends incorporating interactive and attractive teaching methods through in-class and online activities at the school level.