جستجوی مقالات مرتبط با کلیدواژه « School Children » در نشریات گروه « پزشکی »

In Nigeria, intestinal parasitic infection (IPI) is one of the neglected tropical diseases of public health importance.

This study investigated intestinal parasitic infection and associated risk factors among primary school-aged children in Sagbama Local Government Area, Bayelsa State, Nigeria.

A total of 622 stool samples (335 males and 287 females) were collected from 13 primary schools in nine communities and analyzed using parasitological techniques (direct wet mount and formal ether concentration method). The Tukey Honest Significance Difference test (HSD) was used to determine the association and variation between prevalence and socioeconomic variables.

Nine parasite species were encountered with a total prevalence of 23.95%, including Ascaris lumbricoides (7.32%), Entamoeba histolytica (4.98%), Strongyloides stercorals (2.09%), Giardia lamblia (1.93%), Hookworm (1.77%), Trichuris trichiura (1.61%), Schistosoma mansoni (1.45%), Diphyllobotium latium (0.64%) and Fasciola hepatica (0.32%). A total of 4.50% of infections were mixed. With 30.26%, the age group 5 - 7 years had the highest infection rate. The second most prevalent age group was 8 - 10 years old (26.53%), while the least prevalent age group was 14 - 16 years old (12.60%). Males were more infected with the disease, 25.07%, than females, 22.65%. Ascaris lumbricoides were the most predominantcommon parasites encountered across the nine communities. There was a significant difference between the infected population in the nine communities at P < 0.05 (P = 0.001).

There was a relatively high prevalence of intestinal parasitic infection among primary school children in Sagbama local government area. Improved sanitation, safe drinking water, and set-up health education in the communities will reduce the exacerbation of the infection in the area.

Malnutrition remains the ever challenging, public health concern irrespective of age and economic status. Although nutrition is essential irrespective of age but it has peerless role in the school days. The present study was conducted to assess the socio-economic predisposing factors of malnutrition among school children in the Bareilly district of North India.

This cross-sectional study was carried out in Bareilly district of North India. A total of 465 school children were examined for nutritional status and socio-economic factors responsible for malnutrition. Applying multi-stage random sampling technique and pretested, pre-validated schedule was used for data collection which was compiled and analysed with Epi-Info software version 7.

The study revealed 40% prevalence of malnutrition among school children. Socio- demographic factors such as gender, caste, type of family and residence were found statistically significant different with nutritional status of child (p<0.05).  However, socio economic factors such as parental education, employment and socio economic conditions were discovered inversely related with malnutrition (p<0.05).

The study indicates the necessity to accelerate the government’s coping strategies to win over malnutrition in especially in underserved population of country.

COVID-19 pandemic has caused disruption to food security in many countries including Nigeria. However, the impact of this on nutritional status of children is unknown. This study was designed to assess the dietary intake and nutritional status of school-aged children in Umudike, Nigeria within the context of COVID-19. In this community-based cross-sectional study, the nutrient intake and status of 384 school-children (6-12 years) were studied. Socio-demographic characteristics were obtained using intervieweradministered questionnaire. Dietary intake data were collected using a pretested food frequency questionnaire and multi-pass 24 h dietary recall. The nutrient contents in foods were obtained using Nigerian food composition table. Anthropometrics were measured and wasting, overweight and obesity were defined using standard protocol. Totally, 70.5% of children consumed starchy tubers frequently. Animal proteins and fruits were infrequently consumed. Diets of 64.0% of children interviewed were characterized by a higher intake of energy above the recommended nutrient intakes (RNIs), while protein intake was below recommendations in 61.4%. Compared to RNIs, majority of the children had inadequate intakes of calcium (70.1%), iron (69.3%) and vitamins C (60.4%) indicating micronutrient inadequacies. Also, 38.3% of children skipped breakfast, while 49.5% replaced lunch with snacks and 14.06% of the children were wasted, and 16.18% were overweight, while 12.36% were obese. It is therefore plausible that overconsumption of nutrientpoor diets and snacks contributed to the poor nutritional status of the children. There is need for intervention programs to address the problem and improve child nutrition in COVID-19 context.

Back pain is one of the arising musculoskeletal disorders among the children population. The purpose of this study was to compare students’ knowledge about spinal disorders preventive behaviors”

Method and Materials: 

This study was a school-based clinical trial among 104 fifth grade female students. The intervention group (N = 52) received six training sessions once a week and the control group (N=52) did not receive any intervention. Data was collected using the self-reported questionnaire include demographic information and back care knowledge at baseline, immediately, 3- and 6-months follow-ups. Data were analyzed using SPSS software version 24. Descriptive analysis, chi-square test, independent t-test. repeated measure analysis of variance and Friedman test were applied to evaluate the results. Significance level was set at p ≤ 0.05.

The results demonstrated that there was a significant interaction between ‘group’ and ‘test time’ factors (p < 0.001), with higher score for the intervention group (36.4%improvement for the knowledge test score). By contrast, the control group didn’t have  significant higher mean score of knowledge from the pre-test to follow-up assessments.

The effectiveness of intervention on back care related knowledge was demonstrated in this study. Further evaluation is required to examine other determinants of promoting back-related behavior.

 Random urine calcium/creatinine ratio (UCa/Cr) is used practically for the screening of hypercalciuria.

 This study aimed to determine the age-specific reference value of UCa/Cr and its relationship with urinary Na/K in children in Zahedan, South-East of Iran.

 In a cross-sectional study, UCa/Cr and UNa/K ratios were measured in non-fasting morning urine samples of 1,506 randomly selected primary school children.

 The prevalence of hypercalciuria was 3.1%, with no significant difference between males and females. Mean UCa/Cr was 0.09 ± 0.21, and the 95th percentile was 0.27 and 0.22 in seven and 12-year-old children, respectively. Mean urinary UNa/UK was 2.90±1.89, and the 95th percentile was 7.83 and 10.57 in seven and 12-year-old children, respectively. The correlation between UCa/Cr and UNa/UK was statistically significant (r=0.128, P < 0.001). There was also a positive correlation between UCa/Cr and UNa/UK, especially in seven-year-old children (r=0.508, P < 0.001).

 Different reference values of UCa/Cr for seven and 12-years-old emphasize that age-specific reference values of UCa/Cr should be established for each population to be used as a screening method for hypercalciuria.

To evaluate the performance of Plusoptix A09 in detecting ametropia, warranted against frequently-used technique of retinoscopy in children attending school (5–15 years) and its probability as a screening tool.

This study was the subset of a larger epidemiological study visual acuity refractive error squint conducted in schools to determine the prevalence of ocular morbidity among the 5–15 years’ school children population. Every 7th student in the class (each school had mean value of 100 students) was randomly selected for this study after ascertaining their eligibility as per the inclusion criteria. A cohort of a total of 150 children within the age group of 5–15 (mean, 10.21 ± 2.83) years were recruited from 11 schools of Udupi district. Students with best corrected visual acuity of 20/20, refractive error within ±5.00 diopter (D), without any eccentric fixation, and no history of ocular pathology or seizures were recruited. Refractive error was tested by Plusoptix photorefractor followed by non-cycloplegic and cycloplegic retinoscopic techniques. The examiners performing these tests were masked and unware of the findings. Bland Altman plotted the agreement between the techniques, followed by the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC), and sensitivity of Plusoptix.

One-way analysis of variance calculated statistical differences among Plusoptix, objective retinoscopy, and cycloplegic retinoscopy for mean spherical value (1.12 ± 1.16 D, 0.65 ± 0.69 D, and 0.8 ± 0.82 D), cylindrical value (−0.83 D ± 1.27, −0.32 D ± 0.86, and −0.34 D ± −0.93), and spherical equivalent value (0.71 D ± 1.06, 0.45 D ± 0.7, and 0.61 D ± 0.81), with P = 0.0001, 0.0001, and 0.097, respectively. Bland Altman plots showed good agreement for spherical equivalent values of Plusoptix and objective retinoscopy. However, the area under the ROC curve (0.386) suggests that lower diagnostic ability of this device in this age group population in comparison to retinoscopy (0.575) with the sensitivity and specificity of Plusoptix was 69.2% and 84.8%.

This study fails to report ideal sensitivity mandated for a screening tool, although good specificity and agreement are observed. Along with retinoscopy, this tool will be effective in screening a children’s population aged between the age group of 5 and 15 years.

Several studies have developed sex-specific reference percentile curves for body fat percentage in children to be adopted in clinical surveys. This study aimed to develop acceptable percentile curves for body fat percentage in children in Babol, North of Iran, to assess childhood obesity. Body fat percentile charts were created using bioelectrical impedance analysis of 7 to 11 years old schoolchildren from rural and urban parts of Babol. The obtained percentile charts were then smoothed. The findings showed that the mean fat percentages differed between boys and girls. The 50th percentile curve was slightly higher for boys of 7-11 years, with a peak fat percentage of 22.50% at 11 years of age, whereas the mean fat percentage increased with age in 7 to 9 years old girls (16.8%-22.05%), reduced slightly from 9 years of age, and then peaked at 25.5% at 11 years. This study provided reference curves for body fat percentage in the North Iranian children, who were found to have significantly high body fat percentage. It may be useful to further prepare national reference values and cut-off points for body fat percentage as a predictor of childhood obesity.

The study examined the baseline findings of a controlled intervention study comprising anthropometric measurements, nutrient intakes, and physical activity among overweight or obese children in Kota Bharu, Kelantan, Malaysia.
The study was completed in 2016 and the baseline data were gathered from four groups in a school-based randomized community trial among Year Five students from primary schools in Kota Bharu, Kelantan, Malaysia. Participants completed anthropometry assessment, three-day dietary record, and Physical Activity Questionnaire for Older Children (PAQ-C).
The prevalence of obesity was higher among the boys (52.5%). Mean energy intake was significantly higher among boys as compared to the girls (P=0.003). Twenty-five percent of the participants had exceeded the recommended nutrient intakes (RNI) of energy recommended. The calcium, thiamine, riboflavin, and niacin were also significantly higher among boys as compared to the girls (P˂0.05). Boys also exhibited a significantly higher score on performance of physical activity (mean=2.68; SD=0.60) as compared to the girls (mean=2.38; SD=0.51) however it is still in the category of moderately active. Approximately 14.4% of children had a very low physical activity level.
Overweight and obese boys had higher energy and fat intakes but were more physically active as compared to the girls. These findings might be useful in planning appropriate intervention strategies to be designed and delivered especially for this cohort.

To determine the effectiveness of vision therapy among Korean elementary school children with convergence insufficiency.
A total of 235 elementary schoolchildren, 10.13 ± 2.45 years of age, were subjected to thorough eye examination including binocular vision testing. Of them, 32 individuals with symptomatic convergence insufficiency without strabismus, amblyopia, and ocular disease were chosen to receive vision therapy via brock string, barrel card, mirror stereoscope, prism goggles, and aperture rule for a duration of 8 weeks.
The results showed that most of the participants had severe problems in near point of convergence. After the vision therapy, the average near point of convergence improved by approximately 5.48 ± 0.96 cm in all participants. Moreover, vision therapy had an effect on increasing near positive fusional vergence and decreasing exophoria. Negative relative accommodation improved to 2.54 ± 0.51 and positive relative accommodation improved to −3.10 ± 1.08 diopters. After treatment, near phoria was 4.19 ± 1.66 and distance phoria was 1.61 ± 0.71 prism diopters.
Among convergence insufficiency symptoms, the following improved in particular: near point of convergence, exophoria, and near positive fusional vergence. These findings suggest that vision therapy is very effective to recover from symptomatic convergence insufficiency.

Nowadays, a large number of students experience spinal pain quite early in life due to heavy school bag loads. Moreover, external forces in the form of school bags may influence the normal growth, development of children and adolescents, and also maintenance of alignment of their bodies, which can pose a huge threat to postural integrity under external load. Awareness about the appropriate load and placement of backpack is thought to be important in reducing musculoskeletal complications among children’s.

A systematic review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was conducted to determine the influence of postural deviations due to backpack load among school children’s. Electronic databases were searched, and a reference list of retrieved articles were relevant to postural changes among school children with the backpack were screened. Reviewers graded the papers according to Lloyd‑Smith’s hierarchy of evidence scale. Papers were quality appraised using a modified Crombie tool.

Twelve papers were identified for inclusion in this review. Methodological difference limited our ability to collate evidence.

Most of the articles recommended that backpack load limit for school children should be 10–15% of body weight. However, the appropriate load limit for school children is limited due to lack of articles, the low hierarchy of evidence, and small sample size. This review constrains the use of published literature to inform good load limit of school pack among the school children.

The frequency of overweight among children in developing countries is increasing. Parents play a significant role in the successful prevention and treatment of overweight in their children. However, parents will be unable to take effective action against overweight if they cannot correctly perceive their children’s weight status..
The aim of the study was to investigate parents’ perceptions of their children’s weight status and the factors associated with parental misperceptions about their children’s weight status..
In this cross-sectional study, a sample of 886 children aged 6 - 13 years and their fathers or mothers were selected using convenience sampling. Data were collected using a questionnaire about the subjects’ sociodemographic characteristics and the parents’ perceptions of their children’s weight status. The children’s anthropometric parameters were measured using standardized equipments. The chi-square test and logistic regression were used to analyze the data..
Approximately 50% of the parents misperceived their children’s weight status, -4.29% overestimated, and 45.26% underestimated it. The frequency of weight status underestimation was high among the parents of overweight and normal weight children (47.65% and 55.08%, respectively). Logistic regression analysis revealed that the underestimation of weight status by parents was associated with the child’s body mass index (BMI) (odds ratio [OR]: 0.93 and 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.89 - 0.97), the younger children (OR: 1.5, 95% CI: 1.13 - 1.99), a higher parental educational level (OR: 1.54, 95%CI: 1.02 - 2.33), and irregular BMI screening (OR: 1.34, 95%CI: 1.01 - 1.77)..
Parents often have misperceptions about their children’s weight status. Nurses should help parents to correctly perceive their children’s weight status. This study also emphasizes on the need for periodic follow-up of BMI among children..

Preschool children have a limit ability to take care of their teeth. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of an intervention based on Albanian’s Health Promoting Schools Model (Albanian’s HPSM) on the oral health behaviors among a group of Iranian female preschool (5-6 years old) children.
In this quasi-experimental study, 120 children in seventh district of Tehran, Iran were randomly recruited and assigned to either the intervention or the control groups. A scale was designed and validated to assess the oral health behaviors among the children and knowledge,attitude, self-efficacy beliefs, perceived barriers and oral health behaviors among the parents and the schoolteachers. An expert panel approved the content validity of the scale (CVR = 0.89,CVI = 0.90). The reliability was also approved applying intraclass correlation coefficient (range,0.83–0.92) and Cronbach alpha (range, 0.83–0.96). Based on the preliminary data, a 6-week intervention was designed and conducted to the intervention group. One month following the intervention, both groups were followed-up. The data were analyzed using covariance and paired t tests.
Following the intervention, significant differences were found in the oral health behaviors of the children in the intervention group (P Using Albanian’s health-promoting schools (HPSs) approach was useful in improving the oral hygiene behaviors among the preschool children.