Pacifier Use Research Articles

O IMPACTO DAS REDES SOCIAIS NA PRÁTICA DA AMAMENTAÇÃO

The practice of breastfeeding is influenced by several aspects, such as age, education, breast complications, use of pacifiers, and professional guidance. Moreover, due to globalization and the introduction of various technologies, social networks have become a factor that can influence women's decision to start and maintain breastfeeding. The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of social media on the practice of breastfeeding. This is a quantitative study, exploratory in nature, carried out through the breastfeeding support room of the Estácio do Ceará University Center. The data was collected through a semi-structured interview, which sought to assess the influence of social media on the breastfeeding process. The sample of women interviewed had a mean age of 28.5 years. The prevalence of the marital status of the participants was married, with a family income of over two minimum wages, and with an education level of over ten years. The prevalence of primigravidae was evident. It was concluded that among the mothers interviewed the most used social media is Instagram, and that these mothers who seek information on social media were successful in the tip obtained, thus facilitating the breastfeeding process.

Pacifier use and breastfeeding in term and preterm newborns—a systematic review and meta-analysis

The purpose of this study is to assess whether pacifier use is associated with breastfeeding success in term and preterm newborns and whether it influences hospitalization time in preterm newborns. Four databases were searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs), and a systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted. The risk of bias and evidence quality, according to the GRADE methodology, were analyzed. Risk ratios with 95% confidence intervals (CI) for dichotomous outcomes and mean difference (MD) for continuous outcomes were used. The random effect model was used if heterogeneity was high (I2 over 40%). We screened 772 abstracts, assessed 44 full texts, and included 10 studies, of which 5 focused on term and 5 on preterm newborns. There were a few concerns about the risk of bias in 9 of the 10 studies. Breastfeeding rates were analyzed at 2, 3, 4, and 6 months, and the success rates were similar between the restricted and free pacifier use groups (evidence quality was moderate to high). In preterm neonates, the use of a pacifier shortened the duration of hospitalization by 7 days (MD 7.23, CI 3.98–10.48) and the time from gavage to total oral feeding by more than 3 days (MD 3.21 days, CI 1.19–5.24) (evidence quality was ranked as moderate). Conclusions: Based on our meta-analysis, pacifier use should not be restricted in term newborns, as it is not associated with lower breastfeeding success rates. Furthermore, introducing pacifiers to preterm newborns should be considered, as it seems to shorten the time to discharge as well as the transition time from gavage to total oral feeding.What is Known:• Observational studies show that infants who use a pacifier are weaned from breastfeeding earlier.• Previous randomized studies have not presented such results, and there have been no differences in the successful breastfeeding rates regardless of the use of pacifier.What is New:• Term and preterm newborns do not have worse breastfeeding outcomes if a pacifier is introduced to them, and additionally preterm newborns have shorter hospitalization times.• The decision to offer a pacifier should depend on the caregivers instead of hospital policy or staff recommendation, as there is no evidence to support the prohibition or restriction.

Early predictors of short duration of exclusive breastfeeding among Havana women

ProblemIn Cuba, only 40.9% of infants under the age of six months are exclusively breastfed with the average duration of exclusivity being only 2.4 months. Evidence to guide the development of breastfeeding interventions among Cuban women to achieve exclusive breastfeeding to six months is limited. The objective was to identify early predictors for discontinuation of exclusive breastfeeding before six months among Cuban women. MethodsIn a cohort study, 273 maternal-infant pairs were recruited immediately following childbirth at a public hospital in Havana, Cuba and followed up to six months postpartum. A univariate and multivariate strategy was used to identify early predictors of the discontinuation of exclusive breastfeeding before six months. ResultsWhile all women were exclusively breastfeeding at hospital discharge, only 20.5% continued to six months postpartum. The average duration of exclusive breastfeeding was 3.13 months (SD ± 2.14 months). Factors associated with the early discontinuation of exclusive breastfeeding were: (1) breastfeeding not initiated within the first hour of birth, (2) infant birthweight <3.3 kgs, (3) pacifier use, (4) maternal dissatisfaction with infant growth, (5) maternal mental health problems at one month and (6) low breastfeeding self-efficacy at birth and one month. In the multivariate analysis, only maternal dissatisfaction with infant growth progress at one month and birth weight <3.3 kg predicted the early discontinuation of exclusive breastfeeding. ConclusionWomen who gave birth to an infant with a lower birth weight and were dissatisfied with their infant's growth trajectory were high risk to prematurely discontinue exclusive breastfeeding before six months.

Anne sütünü etkileyen faktörler ve emzik kullanımının emzirme üzerine etkileri

Purpose: In this study, we aimed to determine the sociodemographic factors breastfeeding, pacifier use, the problems that may experience in breastfeeding, show effect of pacifier use on breatsfeeding. &#x0D; Material and Methods: A questionnaire was applied by 349 mothers with babies between 24-60 months. &#x0D; Results: The breastfeeding rate was 97%. Increasing week of birth, male gender, being first and/or only child, increasing maternal age, fathers’s support for breastfeeding, long maternity leave, increase the duration of breastfeeding; low birth weight, breastfeeding of siblings less than 6 months, high education level of mothers, pregnancy maternal smoking, early initiation of formula, pacifier use adversely affected breastfeeding. The pacifier use was 41,8%, the duration was 18±10,22 months. Pacifier use decreased breastfeeding, it increased the risk of weaning before 6 months by 5,1 times. &#x0D; Conclusion: To increase duration of breastfeeding, mothers should be supperted, early initiation of additional food, formula, pacifier’s negative effects use on breastfeeding should be explained.

Factors Associated With Exclusive Direct Breastfeeding in the First 3 Months

ObjectiveTo identify factors associated with exclusive direct breastfeeding in the first 3 months among mother and infant dyads living in the United States. DesignA secondary analysis of data collected using a cross-sectional online survey completed over a 4-month period in late 2019. ParticipantsWe recruited a convenience sample of 370 mothers with healthy full-term singleton infants between 1 and 12 weeks of age whose feeding methods consisted of direct breastfeeding at least once a day. Mothers had not returned to work/school at the time of the survey completion. MeasurementsThe questionnaire consisted of 34 questions about maternal and infant factors that influence decisions about infant feeding, professional support, and parental preferences. ResultsMothers who practiced feeding on demand (adjusted OR [aOR] = 35.76, 95% confidence interval [CI] [2.04, 500.00]) and mothers of infants 1 to 4 weeks of age (aOR = 2.74, 95% CI [1.54, 4.85]) were more likely to use exclusive direct breastfeeding. The odds of exclusive direct breastfeeding decreased with mothers who breastfed with a nipple shield while in the hospital/birth center/home (aOR = 0.13, 95% CI [0.05, 0.35]), used pacifiers (aOR = 0.31, 95% CI [0.21, 0.65]), or had perceptions of insufficient milk (aOR = 0.11, 95% CI [0.04, 0.26]). ConclusionDemand feeding and an infant’s age of 1 to 4 weeks contributed to exclusive direct breastfeeding. Lower rates of exclusive direct breastfeeding were associated with the use of nipple shields immediately after birth, pacifier use, and perceptions of insufficient milk. Further investigation is warranted to fully differentiate exclusive direct breastfeeding from exclusive breastfeeding.

Eating habits of breastfed and non-breastfed children up to one year of age

Eating practices in the breastfeeding period constitute an important boundary to the formation of eating habits throughout life. This study aims to evaluate the association between breastfeeding and eating habits of children younger than one year of age in a big city in Northeastern Brazil by a cross-sectional study in which 1471 mothers/children were interviewed in 71 vaccination sites. We surveyed eating habits of children in the 24 hours preceding the data collection: breastfeeding, consumption of other milk sources, water, tea, juice, fruit, family usual meal, sweetened food, cookies, snacks, soft drinks and coffee; as well as bottle and pacifier use. Breastfed children less than three months old, compared with the non-breastfed ones, presented higher consumption of water (12.8% vs. 69.6%), tea (14.6% vs. 45.5%) and fruit juice (5% vs. 30.4%). At the age of three to six months, breastfed children showed lower prevalence of other milk sources (32.4% vs. 92.2%) and sweetened foods (19.0% vs. 60.0%). Breastfeeding figured as a protective factor against early consumption of unhealthy foods such as cookies/salty snacks (3–6 months old) and sweetened foods in all quarters. Bottles and pacifiers use was significantly higher in non-breastfed children, especially in the second quarter, with a prevalence of 93.8% and 100%, respectively. Breastfed children showed better eating habits when compared with the non-breastfed ones.

Breastfeeding Education in a Newly Organized Lactation Consultation Clinic: An Evaluation of Its Effects on the Improvement of Maternal Attitudes to Breastfeeding.

ObjectiveBreastfeeding is the principal feeding source in the first years of life. Its targeted rates are not achieved properly, globally. Multifactorial reasons have been reported, but the effect of the facilities in the hospitals including lactation consultation clinics have rarely been discussed. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of breastfeeding education in a first officially organized clinic. This may further help authorities make any necessary interferences and improve public health strategies.Materials and MethodsA cross-sectional, interventional study was performed in 100 mothers who were given breastfeeding education and was compared with 100 mothers without education. All of the mothers were interviewed to assess breastfeeding attitudes after 6 months.ResultsThe study group demonstrated higher exclusive breastfeeding rates than controls (76% and 28%, respectively). Having an education was the most significant factor affecting exclusive breastfeeding duration (P < .05). Complementary feeding, bottles, and pacifiers were introduced significantly earlier in the control group (P < .05) There was a negative association between breastfeeding duration and both bottle and pacifier use (P < .05).ConclusionLactation consultation at a breastfeeding clinic improved the breastfeeding rate. Extending this project to maternity and children’s hospitals will help to achieve the desired national targets in exclusive breastfeeding.

Baby Food and Oral Health: Knowledge of the Existing Interaction

Background: The purpose of this study is to verify parents’ knowledge of child nutrition and their awareness of the interaction between unhealthy sugars in their child’s diet and caries formation. Methods: a questionnaire was proposed using Instagram to analyze type of breastfeeding; type of weaning and diet; home oral hygiene maneuvers; bad habits (use of pacifiers, bottles, and sugary substances); knowledge on the usefulness of fluoride; and first dental visit. A total of 200 parents from different regions of Italy with children aged 2 months to 6 years were contacted. Results showed that 66% parents preferred breastfeeding, while the remaining 34% chose artificial breastfeeding. Fifty percent (100 babies) started weaning at six months, 20% (40 babies) at the fifth month, 13.5% (27 babies) at the fourth month, and only 11.5% (23 babies) in a range from the seventh to ninth month of life. Oral hygiene practices were performed only by 25% of parents before eruption of the first tooth. After eruption of the first tooth, there is greater attention to home oral hygiene practices: 59% of parents carry out and teach their children daily home oral hygiene maneuvers. Conclusions: it is possible to raise awareness among parents and caregivers on the importance of food education.

Relationship of prolonged pacifier use with acute otitis media

Introduction: The pacifier is defined as an object whose shape is similar to that of a nipple and is made of rubber, making it easier for children to suck, many times it is mothers who include it in breastfeeding without measuring the consequences and effects that it causes with constant use. , affecting health, one of them (Acute Otitis Media). The objective of this systematic review is to determine the relationship between the frequent use of pacifiers and the development of AOM (Acute Otitis Media) in children under 48 months of age. Methods: To carry out the search, the following question was posed: What is the relationship between prolonged pacifier use and otitis media in children under 4 years of age? The search was carried out from May 16 to June 20, 2022. scientific databases reviewed were: PubMed, Ebsco, ScienceDirect, ProQuest and Scopus. To carry out the systematic review, the Boolean operators AND and OR were used, in which three specific combinations (DeCS and MeSH) were used to perform the combinations and execute the search. Results: Initially 1883 were found, but after applying the inclusion and exclusion rules, a total of 45 articles were analyzed. Said reviews began to be reviewed by titles, abstract, and finally, the full text was read, thus leaving only three articles according to the objectives set. Conclusion: The results obtained through this study show the relationship between the prolonged use of the pacifier or pacifier with the development and incidence of AOM (Acute Otitis Media) in children under four years of age, it was possible to observe which is a very frequent emergency in the pediatric population. On the other hand, it is estimated that this population under three years of age has had at least one picture of it, more current studies are required to compare if the incidence statistics of the relationship between pacifier and AOM have been increasing.

Predicting exclusive breastfeeding in maternity wards using machine learning techniques

Background and objectiveAdequate support in maternity wards is decisive for breastfeeding outcomes during the first year of life. Quality improvement interventions require the identification of the factors influencing hospital benchmark indicators. Machine Learning (ML) models and post-hoc Explainable Artificial Intelligence (XAI) techniques allow accurate predictions and explaining them. This study aimed to predict exclusive breastfeeding during the in-hospital postpartum stay by ML algorithms and explain the ML model’s behaviour to support decision making. MethodsThe dataset included 2042 mothers giving birth in 18 hospitals in Eastern Spain. We obtained information on demographics, mothers’ breastfeeding experiences, clinical variables, and participating hospitals’ support conditions. The outcome variable was exclusive breastfeeding during the in-hospital postpartum stay. We tested algorithms from different ML families. To evaluate the ML models, we applied 10-fold stratified cross-validation. We used the following metrics: Area under curve receiver operating characteristic (ROC AUC), area under curve precision-recall (PR AUC), accuracy, and Brier score. After selecting the best fitting model, we calculated Shapley’s additive values to assign weights to each predictor depending on its additive contribution to the outcome and to explain the predictions. ResultsThe XGBoost algorithms showed the best metrics (ROC AUC = 0.78, PR AUC = 0.86, accuracy = 0.75, Brier = 0.17). The main predictors of the model included, in order of importance, the pacifier use, the degree of breastfeeding self-efficacy, the previous breastfeeding experience, the birth weight, the admission of the baby to a neonatal care unit after birth, the moment of the first skin-to-skin contact between mother and baby, and the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative accreditation of the hospital. Specific examples for linear and nonlinear relations between main predictors and the outcome and heterogeneity of effects are presented. Also, we describe diverse individual cases showing the variation of the prediction depending on individual characteristics. ConclusionThe ML model adequately predicted exclusive breastfeeding during the in-hospital stay. Our results pointed to opportunities for improving care related to support for specific mother’s groups, defined by current and previous infant feeding experiences and clinical conditions of the newborns, and the participating hospitals’ support conditions. Also, XAI techniques allowed identifying non-linearity relations and effect’s heterogeneity, explaining specific cases’ risk variations.

Co-Sleeping as a Protector against Malocclusion in the Primary Dentition: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Mothers practice co-sleeping and breastfeeding simultaneously, for convenience and to strengthen bonding. Due to the scarcity of studies analyzing the impact of co-sleeping on primary dentition, this study aimed to analyze the possible effects of co-sleeping on children’s occlusion. In this cross-sectional study, mothers of 221 children aged 2–5 years who had been breastfed for less than 6 months completed a questionnaire about non-nutritive sucking habits. The WHO (World Health Organization) and IOTN-AC indices (the Aesthetic Component of the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need) were used to assess malocclusion. The type of sagittal (dental and skeletal), transverse and vertical malocclusion was recorded. The non-co-sleeping group showed significantly higher pacifier use (p < 0.05), digital sucking (p < 0.05) and atypical swallowing (p < 0.05) habits. The non-co-sleeping group showed significantly higher mean scores on the IOTN-AC (p < 0.05) and WHO (p < 0.01), a significantly higher presence of canine class II (p < 0.05), anterior open bite (p < 0.05), posterior crossbite (p < 0.05), overbite (p < 0.05), skeletal class II (p < 0.01) and protrusion (p < 0.05). In conclusion, children who practice co-sleeping appear to have a lower frequency and duration of non-nutritive sucking habits. Co-sleeping may contribute to a lower development of malocclusions in children who are weaned early (before six months of age).

Risk Factors of Acute Otitis Media in Early Age (A Meta-Analysis)

Objective: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the risk factors of acute otitis media in children. Study Design: Case Control study Place and Duration: Conducted at Bilawal medical Hospital Kotri, LUMHS Jamshoro, during from the period August 2021 to January 2022. Methods: There were 110 children with ages 1 month to 6 years were presented in this study. After obtaining informed written permission, a mother's age, parity, gestational age, and smoking history were documented in detail for each of the instances described. Patient’s clinical presentation were also recorded. All the patients had confirmed acute otitis media. Risk factors of AOM among enrolled cases were recorded. SPSS 21.0 was used to analyze complete data. Results: Among 110 children, there were 65 (60.2%) males and 43 (39.8%) females. We found that majority of the cases 42 (38.2%) were aged between 1month to 2-years had AOM.Symptoms included fever, otalgia, otorrhea, restlessness, nausea, vomiting, hearing loss, and tinnitus or vertigo in individuals. Tobacco usage by the parents, premature birth, supine bottle feeding, pacifier use, and day care attendance were all significant risk factors for acute otitis media (AOM). The current investigation showed no link between AOM and a craniofacial abnormality. Conclusion:We found that bottle feeding,day care attendance during the first 10 months of life, supine bottle feeding, pacifier usage in the second 6 months of life, parental cigarette smoking, preterm infant, and allergy were significant risk factors for AOM. Keywords:Children, AOM, Pacifier, Smoking Clinical Features

Determination of mothers' thoughts and adaptation behaviors regarding the infant: A descriptive study

With motherhood, women focus on their new baby. They begin to develop new adaptation behaviors to provide the best care for the infant. The study aims to describe the adaptive behaviors and concerned thoughts of first-time and repeat mothers. The study was designed in descriptive and cross-sectional type. Data were collected from mothers using a questionnaire and "The scale of being the mother of a baby." The study was completed with 112 mothers who were reached by snowball sampling method and agreed to participate. The data were analyzed at the 95% confidence interval at the p˂.05 significance level. 66.1% of the mothers had a baby for the first time, and 73.2% of the mothers received information/education about baby care. It was determined that they wanted to receive information on topics such as maternal and infant nutrition, diseases, and immunization. A statistically significant difference was found between the age of pacifier use (p=.032). It was determined that mothers got 130.7 points in total from the scale, 88.3 points from the evaluation of motherhood sub-dimension, and 42.3 points from the life change sub-dimension. A statistically significant difference was found between the baby care knowledge/training status and the scale scores. The importance and continuity of education during and after pregnancy has emerged. Nurses are competent people with a key role in this regard, and it is recommended to use individualized care protocols for the training provided.

Suspected neuropsychomotor developmental delay in the first 2 years of life in a birth cohort in the Brazilian Amazon: Incidence, persistence and risk factors

AbstractWe estimated risk factors associated with suspected neuropsychomotor developmental delay at age 2 years, in a birth cohort in the Brazilian Amazon. The Maternal and Child Health and Nutrition in Acre (MINA‐Brasil) study is a population‐based birth cohort involving children born between July 2015 and June 2016 in the municipality of Cruzeiro do Sul, in the Brazilian state of Acre. We assessed neuropsychomotor development in 735 and 819 children at one and 2 years of age, respectively, using the Denver II screening test. Multivariate Poisson regression models were used to investigate the factors associated with suspected developmental delay at age 2 years. The frequency of suspected developmental delay was 29.5 and 51.0% at one and 2 years of age, respectively, with a cumulative incidence of 41.6% and a persistence of 60.6% between the first and second years of life. After adjustment, the risk of developmental delay at 2 years of age was found to be higher for children born to women with fewer years of education and whose mothers had urinary tract infection during pregnancy. Other risk factors included male sex, low height for age at 2 years, malaria at childhood, pacifier use and limited child stimulation at age 2 years.

The Determinants of Complementary Feeding Introduction Vary According to the Type of Food and Infants' Ages: A Cohort Study-ClaB, Brazil.

Food inadequacies in the first 6months of life are considered a global problem, with an emphasis on early complementary feeding introduction (CFI). This study aimed to identify the determinants of CFI. A birth cohort study (N = 641). Data on infant feeding was collected before 30days, and at 2, 4, and 6months of age and, at baseline, data regarding socioeconomic status, demographics, maternal and infant health, obstetric history, and infant care. The hypothesis was that the risk determinants for early CFI vary according to the type of food and the age range of this introduction. Twelve Cox regression models were fit with four outcomes (formula; other types of milk; other beverages; and solid/semi-solid foods) considering three different age ranges of the infant at their introduction (< 2months, 2-4months, and 4-6months). The introduction of the four food groups analyzed was early (median ages of introduction: formulas = 45days; other milks = 135days; other beverages = 120days; solids and semi-solids = 135days). The determinants that increased the risk of introducing formulas before 2 months were: primiparity, employed without maternity leave, mothers with unsatisfactory prenatal counseling and those who had cesarean sections. Not living with a partner, infant pacifier use at 2 months of age had a higher risk of introducing formula between 2 and 4months of age. Non-white skin color, more than 35years old, low maternal education, and lower family income increased the risk of introducing other types of milk between 2 and 4months of age. Between 4 and 6months of age, adolescent and low education level mothers had a higher risk of introducing other types of milk, unemployed was a protective factor against the introduction of other foods and beverages in this age group. The determinants of early CFI varied according to the type of food and the age of introduction.

Adverse pregnancy outcomes and occlusal traits in the primary dentition: A prospective cohort (BRISA).

This study aimed to analyse the relationship between adverse pregnancy outcomes (APO) and occlusal traits in the primary dentition, checking for different mediation paths. Children evaluated at birth (T1), between 12 and 24months (T2), and between 24 and 36months (T3) were included. Two hundred and seventeen children who participated in T1 and T2 were randomly selected to perform the occlusion examination. This is a prospective cohort study (BRISA). The theoretical model was tested by structural equation modelling (SEM), estimating standardized coefficients (Coeff.) (α=0.05). The primary exposure was APO-a latent variable manifested from three health problems at birth: low birthweight (LBW), pre-term birth (PTB) and intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), evaluated in T1. The outcomes were four different occlusal traits assessed in T3: overjet, anterior and posterior crossbite, and crowding. Each outcome's direct and indirect effects were tested, mediated by growth, breathing, breastfeeding, and pacifier use. There was no direct association between APO and any of the outcomes: overjet (Coeff.=-0.163, P=.241), anterior crossbite (Coeff.=-0.696, P=.065), posterior crossbite (Coeff.=-0.087, P=.589) and crowding (Coeff.=0.400, P=.423). The indirect (total and specifics) effects tested also showed no association (P>.05). However, APO was associated with lower child growth in all models; breastfeeding was associated with higher child growth in all models, and pacifier use was associated with overjet (Coeff.=0.184, P<.001) and posterior crossbite (Coeff.=0.373, P=.011). APO was not a risk factor for overjet, crossbite and crowding in an early stage of the primary dentition by direct and indirect pathways. However, growth has been lower in children with APO and higher in children breastfed. Also, the harmful effects of using a pacifier in dental occlusion are highlighted.

Model based prediction of age-specific soil and dust ingestion rates for children

BackgroundSoil and dust ingestion can be a primary route of environmental exposures. Studies have shown that young children are more vulnerable to incidental soil and dust ingestion. However, available data to develop soil and dust ingestion rates for some child-specific age groups are either lacking or uncertain.ObjectiveOur objective was to use the Stochastic Human Exposure and Dose Simulation Soil and Dust (SHEDS-Soil/Dust) model to estimate distributions of soil and dust ingestion rates for ten age ranges from infancy to late adolescents (birth to 21 years).MethodsWe developed approaches for modeling age groups previously not studied, including a new exposure scenario for infants to capture exposures to indoor dust via pacifier use and accounting for use of blankets that act as a barrier to soil and dust exposure.ResultsOverall mean soil and dust ingestion rates ranged from ~35 mg/day (infants, 0–<6 m) to ~60 mg/day (toddlers and young children, 6m–<11 yr) and were considerably lower (about 20 mg/day) for teenagers and late adolescents (16–<21 y). The pacifier use scenario contributed about 20 mg/day to the median dust ingestion rate for young infants. Except for the infant age groups, seasonal analysis showed that the modeled estimates of average summer mean daily total soil plus dust ingestion rates were about 50% higher than the values predicted for the winter months. Pacifier use factors and carpet dust loading values were drivers of exposure for infants and younger children. For older children, influential variables included carpet dust loading, soil adherence, and factors that capture the frequency and intensity of hand-to-mouth behaviors.SignificanceThese results provide modeled estimates of children’s soil and dust ingestion rates for use in decision making using real-world exposure considerations.Impact statementThe parameterization of scenarios to capture infant soil and dust ingestion and the application of SHEDS-Soil/Dust to a broader age range of children provides additional estimates of soil and dust ingestion rates that are useful in refining population-based risk assessments. These data illuminate drivers of exposure that are useful to both risk management applications and for designing future studies that improve upon existing tracer methodologies.

The knowledge and behaviors of mothers with children 0–3 aged about pacifier use – a cross-sectional study

Introduction and aim. The use of pacifier is a very common practice in the early childhood period in the world. In recent years, the harms of pacifiers have been discussed rather than their benefits. We aimed to determine the knowledge and behaviors of mothers with children aged 0–3 about the use of pacifiers. Material and methods. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 363 mothers between January 10th and November 31st, 2020 in Zonguldak, Turkey. The data were collected with a web-based questionnaire. This article was prepared following STROBE guidelines. Results. The mothers started using the pacifier for the first time when their children were at an average of 2.86±3.31 months old, and they used it for at an average of 12.06±9.13 months. Of the mothers, 36.4% were found to clean the pacifier every month and 30.6% to have the behavior of dipping the pacifier into a product such as sugar, honey, molasses, and jam. The mothers with undergraduate degrees had the behavior of cleaning pacifiers more than those with postgraduate degrees (p&lt;0.001). Conclusion. Mothers preferred to give pacifiers to babies at a high rate and had misinformation about the use of pacifiers that may harm their children’s health.

Association between deleterious oral habits and asthma in children: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Deleterious oral habits (DOH) have been described as a common finding in pediatric series. Studies have investigated their association with local and systemic health problems. In this study, the association between DOH and asthma was investigated. PubMed, Scopus, Lilacs, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and OpenThesis were accessed to identify observational studies that evaluated the association between DOH (thumb sucking, pacifier use, onychophagia or nail biting, bottle feeding) and asthma in children aged 2-17 years. Information on DOH was obtained from the verbal report of the children's parents. Asthma diagnosis was performed by a physician or using the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) questionnaire. We used a random-effects model to pool the results. The odds ratio (OR) was used as measure of association between DOH and asthma. The National Institutes of Health Quality Assessment Tool for Observational Cohort and Cross-Sectional Studies was used to assess risk of bias. The GRADE approach was used to assess the quality of evidence. Five studies were included and data from 18,733 children aged 2 to 13 years were analyzed. We found an association between bottle feeding and asthma (OR = 1.25; 95%CI 1.13-1.38; p < 0.001) with moderate level of certainty. Despite the association between pacifier use and asthma (OR = 1.11; 95%CI 1.00-1.24; p = 0.05), the quality of evidence was low. Only one study provided data on nail biting and thumb-sucking, and the individual results showed no association between these habits and asthma. This meta-analysis found an association between bottle feeding, pacifier use, and asthma in children.

Infant care practices among mothers attending well-baby clinics at primary health care centers in Unaizah city.

Infant care, crucial for the well-being of infants, is an inherent human practice. Although there are important implications of infant care practices on infant health, there is a dearth of comprehensive studies covering all important aspects of infant care in an individual study. To determine practices regarding infant feeding, infant sleep, use of pacifiers, and immunization, and to explore the association of these practices with mother's demographic data. A cross-sectional study was conducted using a self-administrated questionnaire distributed among mothers attending well-baby clinics in Primary Health Care Centers (PHCCs), Unaizah city, Qassim region, Saudi Arabia. By using the two-stage cluster sampling method, 50 women participated from each of the four selected PHCCs, leading to a total of 200 participants. The survey was conducted from December 2020 to February 2021. Data were analyzed using SPSS software. A total of 124 (62%) respondents were between the ages of 26 and 35 years, 64% had a bachelor's degree, and 69.5% were housewives. Breastfeeding was practiced by 88% of women, 48% began infant weaning at 6 months of age, and 49% put their infant to sleep on their back. Up-to-date vaccination was reported for 188 (94%) infants. Infant pacifier use was reported by 58% of the respondents, and 82.5% of the participants had been offered formula milk for the newborn at the hospital. Vaginal delivery, absence of complications during pregnancy or labor, presence of a housemaid, and family income of more than 10,000 Saudi Riyals were significantly associated with better infant care practices. The study participants have good practices for certain infant care aspects such as immunization; however, improvement is needed for other practices, including weaning at the proper age, infant sleep position, and the use of pacifiers. Administrative measures are required to monitor the use of formula milk at hospitals and to enhance health education for mothers.