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1 – 10 of over 2000Vincent Adocta Awuuh, Collins Afriyie Appiah and Faustina O. Mensah
This study aims to determine the impact of nutrition education intervention on nutritional status of undernourished children aged 6-24 months in the East Mamprusi district of…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to determine the impact of nutrition education intervention on nutritional status of undernourished children aged 6-24 months in the East Mamprusi district of Ghana.
Design/methodology/approach
This was a pre-post interventional study. In all, 153 undernourished children of age 6-24 months and their mothers were recruited from five communities. Underweight, stunting, wasting, mid upper arm circumference (MUAC) and haemoglobin (Hb) levels were determined at baseline and after intervention. Nutrition education was given to the mothers for three months based on the nutrition problems identified at baseline assessment.
Findings
There were improvements in underweight, wasting, MUAC and Hb levels among the children after the nutrition education intervention. The level of improvement at post-intervention differed significantly for underweight (−2.4 ± 0.4, −2.2 ± 0.4; p = 0. 001), wasting (−2.2 ± 0.6, −1.9 ± 0.6; p = 0. 001), MUAC (12.3 ± 0.5, 12.9 ± 0.6; p = 0. 001) and Hb level (10.0 ± 1.4, 10.5 ± 1.4; p = 0. 001) of the children compared to pre-intervention (−1.4 ± 1.8, −1.3 ± 1.7; p = 0.314).
Practical implications
There was significant improvement in the nutritional status of the undernourished children after the nutrition education intervention. Community nutritionists and stakeholders involved in nutrition and health issues concerning infants and young children should consider nutrition education, as it could be an inexpensive and effective strategy in combating childhood undernutrition in resource-poor settings.
Originality/value
Findings of this study provide evidence, suggesting nutrition education as a potential strategy to curb the high rates of child undernutrition in resource-poor communities in Ghana. This study provides insight for larger studies on the effectiveness of nutrition education in curbing child malnutrition in deprived communities in Ghana.
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The continuing challenge for health professionals engaged in international health activities is to encourage essential changes in policy and process in order to meet the…
Abstract
The continuing challenge for health professionals engaged in international health activities is to encourage essential changes in policy and process in order to meet the objectives of ‘Health for All by the Year 2000’, by way of the primary health care (PHC) approach, as laid down by the World Health Organization in 1978. Achievement of the long‐term goals will largely depend on the extent of the immediate commitment to those primary health care management considerations which reflect the expressed health needs of the community and which accommodate and support methods by which those needs can be met appropriately.
Wipada Sangnimitchaikul, Boonjai Srisatidnarakul and Sigrid Ladores
This study explored self-management in the context of asthma experiences of school-age children and the factors that facilitate asthma self-management.
Abstract
Purpose
This study explored self-management in the context of asthma experiences of school-age children and the factors that facilitate asthma self-management.
Design/methodology/approach
This is qualitative research used in-depth interviews. Purposive sampling was employed to select 15 school-age children with asthma attending the outpatient pulmonary department at university hospital in Thailand. Semistructured in-depth individual interviews were conducted. which were audiotaped and transcribed verbatim. Content analysis was used to analyze the data.
Findings
Two major themes emerged from this study: (1) perspectives on managing asthma and (2) facilitators in asthma self-management. Four subthemes emerged from the first major theme related to views on managing asthma: (1) emphasizing use of an inhaler for asthma, (2) self-monitoring for symptom, (3) difficulties with the daily regimens and (4) family support on asthma self-management. Two subthemes emerged from the second major theme related to facilitators in asthma self-management: (1) confidence in performing asthma care behaviors and (2) asthma communication.
Originality/value
This study described strategies that support asthma management of children in Thailand and provided insight into factors that influence asthma self-management. Findings will inform the development of future self-management interventions for school-age children with asthma.
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The paper presents results of a qualitative assessment of the morbidity and mortality in thyroid cancers by the Belarusian population caused by the Chernobyl accident. In the…
Abstract
The paper presents results of a qualitative assessment of the morbidity and mortality in thyroid cancers by the Belarusian population caused by the Chernobyl accident. In the period of 1986‐1998 about 3,851 radiation‐induced thyroid cancers appeared in Belarus: about 615 cancers by children and about 3,236 cancers by adolescents and adults. The number of lethal thyroid cancers in this period of time in Belarus is assessed as about 167 cases. The excessive absolute risk (EAR) of the morbidity in the thyroid cancer assessed for the period of 1986‐1998 on the basis of given data on the morbidity is about 1.7 per 104 PYGy. The excessive absolute risk of mortality is assessed as about 0.075 per 104 PYGy. These values agree quite well with analogous risk coefficients established for other groups of people in other epidemiological studies.
Collins Afriyie Appiah, Faustina O. Mensah, Frank E. A. Hayford, Vincent A. Awuuh and Daniel Edem Kpewou
The purpose of this study was to identify the predictors of child undernutrition and anemia among children 6–24 months old in the East Mamprusi district, Northern region, Ghana.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study was to identify the predictors of child undernutrition and anemia among children 6–24 months old in the East Mamprusi district, Northern region, Ghana.
Design/methodology/approach
This cross-sectional study recruited 153 children and their mothers. Weight, height and hemoglobin levels of the children were measured. A structured questionnaire based on the World Health Organization's indicators for assessing infant and young child feeding practices was used to collect data on parents' socioeconomic status, household characteristics, hygiene and sanitation practices, mothers' knowledge on feeding practices such as child's meal frequency and dietary diversity and child morbidity within the past two weeks. Predictors of child nutritional status were determined using multinomial logistic regression analysis.
Findings
Underweight in the children was significantly predicted by maternal knowledge on protein foods (AOR = 0.045, p = 0.008), time of initiation of complementary feeding (AOR = 0.222, p = 0.032) and maternal age (AOR = 9.455, p = 0.017). Feeding child from separate bowls (AOR = 0.239, p = 0.005), minimum meal frequency per child's age (AOR = 0.189, p = 0.007) and time of initiation of complementary feeding (AOR = 0.144, p = 0.009) were significant determinants of stunting among the children. Exclusive breast feeding (AOR = 7.975, p = 0.012) and child's past morbidity (AOR = 0.014, p = 0.001) significantly contributed to anemia among the children.
Research limitations/implications
This is a cross-sectional study and cannot establish causality. The small sample size also limits the generalizability of study findings. However, findings of the study highlight factors which could potentially influence the high rate of child undernutrition in the study setting.
Practical implications
This study identifies determinants of undernutrition in the East Mamprusi district, an underresourced area in Ghana. This information could inform the development/reformulation of locally sensitive key messages and targeted intervention strategies to curb the high levels of child undernutrition in the East Mamprusi district of Ghana.
Originality/value
This study identifies maternal care practices as key potential drivers of undernutrition in a low-resource setting known for high prevalence of child undernutrition. It suggests insight for large-scale studies on the predictors of child undernutrition in Northern Ghana and other resource-poor settings.
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Sanoobia Iqrar and Azra Musavi
This paper aims to understand the maternal health vulnerabilities of migrant women in slums and explore their challenges during and after childbirth.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to understand the maternal health vulnerabilities of migrant women in slums and explore their challenges during and after childbirth.
Design/methodology/approach
The study used a qualitative approach, including in-depth interviews through purposive and snowball sampling techniques. Thematic analysis was used for analysing data. The consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative studies (COREQ)-32 items were followed for reporting this study.
Findings
The study found that migrant women were highly susceptible to adverse birthing outcomes due to risks involved in birthing, lack of care and hygiene, lack of skilled care in dealing with complicated pregnancies and exposure to domestic and obstetric violence.
Originality/value
The study intends to highlight the narratives of female migrants’ birthing and maternal health challenges. The entire process of childbirth in slums with consequences can result in maternal and infant morbidities and mortalities.
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Mordechai Shechter, Leon Epstein and Ayala Cohen
Examines three inter‐related facets of environmental pollution: thephysiological facet, namely the effect of exposure on health(specifically, morbidity), which has revealed a…
Abstract
Examines three inter‐related facets of environmental pollution: the physiological facet, namely the effect of exposure on health (specifically, morbidity), which has revealed a significant relationship between qualitatively‐defined ambient pollution levels in either respondent′s place of residence or workplace and self‐reported respiratory symptoms and diseases; a behavioural facet, manifested in seeking health care and in restricting normal activity, which has shown significant relationships between mean sulphur dioxide concentrations during a two‐week period preceding the interview and utilization of medical services or restricted activity days over the same period; and an economic facet, which translated these behavioural responses into economic costs, in terms of the value of lost output and additional health‐care resources, and elicited direct estimates of these economic costs in terms of the willingness to pay of households to avoid the health consequences of exposure to pollution. Findings indicate a high degree of consistency among three alternative methods for eliciting willingness to pay, but a sizeable discrepancy between the two approaches to valuing the economic cost. Explains the discrepancy by the different methodological basis of the two approaches.
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Paul Soper, Alex G. Stewart, Rajan Nathan, Sharleen Nall-Evans, Rachel Mills, Felix Michelet and Sujeet Jaydeokar
This study aims to evaluate the quality of transition from child and adolescent services to adult intellectual disability services, using the relevant National Institute for…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to evaluate the quality of transition from child and adolescent services to adult intellectual disability services, using the relevant National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) standard (QS140). In addition, this study also identifies any differences in transition quality between those young people with intellectual disability with and without autism.
Design/methodology/approach
Using routinely collected clinical data, this study identifies demographic and clinical characteristics of, and contextual complexities experienced by, young people in transition between 2017 and 2020. Compliance with the quality standard was assessed by applying dedicated search terms to the records.
Findings
The study highlighted poor recording of data with only 22% of 306 eligible cases having sufficient data recorded to determine compliance with the NICE quality standard. Available data indicated poor compliance with the standard. Child and adolescent mental health services, generally, did not record mental health co-morbidities. Compliance with three out of the five quality statements was higher for autistic young people, but this only reached statistical significance for one of those statements (i.e. having a named worker, p = 0.02).
Research limitations/implications
Missing data included basic clinical characteristics such as the level of intellectual disability and the presence of autism. This required adult services to duplicate assessment procedures that potentially delayed clinical outcomes. This study highlights that poor compliance may reflect inaccurate recording that needs addressing through training and introduction of shared protocols.
Originality/value
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study to examine the transition process between children’s and adults’ intellectual disability health services using NICE quality standard 140.
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Huda Khan, Richard Lee and Zaheer Khan
Obesity leads to increased mortality and morbidity among children, as well as when they turn adults. Melding marketing theories in social influence and message framing, this study…
Abstract
Purpose
Obesity leads to increased mortality and morbidity among children, as well as when they turn adults. Melding marketing theories in social influence and message framing, this study aims to examine how compliance versus conformance social influence, each framed either prescriptively or proscriptively, may guide children’s choice of healthy versus unhealthy food.
Design/methodology/approach
This study conducted two experiments in a Pakistani junior school. Experiment 1 exposed children to either a prescriptive or a proscriptive compliance influence. Experiment 2 involved a 2 (prescriptive vs proscriptive compliance influence) × 2 (supportive vs conflicting conformance-influence) between-subjects design. Participants in both studies answered an online survey after being exposed to the social-influence messages.
Findings
Experiment 1 showed proscriptive was stronger than prescriptive compliance influence in nudging children to pick fruits (healthy) over candies (unhealthy). However, frequency of fruits dropped as susceptibility to compliance strengthened. Experiment 2 found that a proscriptive compliance influence reinforced by a supportive conformance-influence led to most children picking fruits. However, a conflicting conformance influence was able to sway some children away from fruits to candies. This signalled the importance of harmful peer influence, particularly with children who were more likely to conform.
Research limitations/implications
Childhood is a critical stage for inculcating good eating habits. Besides formal education about food and health, social influence within classrooms can be effective in shaping children’s food choice. While compliance and conformance influence can co-exist, one influence can reinforce or negate the other depending on message framing.
Practical implications
In developing countries like Pakistan, institutional support to tackle childhood obesity may be weak. Teachers can take on official, yet informal, responsibility to encourage healthy eating. Governments can incentivise schools to organise informal activities to develop children’s understanding of healthy consumption. Schools should prevent children from bringing unhealthy food to school, so that harmful peer behaviours are not observable, and even impose high tax on unhealthy products or subsidise healthy products sold in schools.
Originality/value
This study adopts a marketing lens and draws on social influence and message framing theory to shed light on children’s food choice behaviour within a classroom environment. The context was an underexplored developing country, Pakistan, where childhood obesity is a public health concern.
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