International Journal of Child Health and Nutrition

Determinants Influencing the Consumption of Iron-Rich Foods among Senegalese Young Children: A Path Analysis

2024-03-25T13:12:41+00:00

Background: Anaemia is a public health concern among Senegalese children aged 6-59 months old. One of the potential causes of this situation is the low consumption of iron-rich foods (IRF). Understanding factors that influence the provision of IRF among young children could help prevent and control anemia. Using the extended version of the theory of planned behavior (eTPB), this nationwide study examines psychosocial and environmental determinants of the consumption of IRF in children aged 6-23 months.

Methods and Materials: To this end, an existing questionnaire used for the same purpose was reviewed and re-validated. Using data collected among 418 children's caregivers on each construct of the eTPB, pathways by which individual and environmental constructs may influence the daily IRF consumption were identified. Data on IRF consumption were collected using a food frequency questionnaire.

Results: Overall, 42% of children consumed IRF, while 95% of caregivers intended to provide them with IRF daily. There was no association between the intention and the actual behavior. The daily IRF consumption was instead predicted by the child's age and environmental factors. In turn, the subjective norm and the perceived behavioral control predicted the intention.

Conclusion: By using a valid and reliable tool to collect data on individual and environmental factors affecting the consumption of IRF among Senegalese young children on a national scale, our research highlights potential barriers to their provision. These barriers should be considered in the design and implementation of effective interventions to improve their nutrition.

Reticulocytes and Related Parameters in Clinical Practice

2024-03-25T13:12:39+00:00

The development of hematologic analyzers allowed us to assess several additional parameters derived in addition to the number of reticulocytes. There is, among others, the calculation of immature reticulocyte fractions, reticulocyte maturity index, reticulocyte production index, and equivalent reticulocyte hemoglobin. The advantage of the equivalent hemoglobin and the content of hemoglobin is the insensitivity to interference by inflammation. These newly introduced parameters expand the possibilities to access bone marrow erythropoietic activity, iron stores, and the effectiveness of iron supplementation, vitamin B12, and folic acid supplementation. These parameters are also used to make decisions about blood transfusions or to detect occult internal bleeding.

Malondialdehyde as a Prognosticating Marker for Staging of HIE - A Prospective Cohort Study

2024-03-25T13:12:37+00:00

Introduction: Prediction of outcomes of asphyxiated neonates is imperative. Timely intervention and effective resuscitation are beneficial for intact neurodevelopmental outcomes. In this study, we assessed the level of oxidative stress at birth in cord blood and correlated it with the Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE) staging and outcomes.

Methodology: This Prospective Cohort Study was conducted between January 2020 and June 2022. All neonates requiring resuscitation at birth were enrolled in a study group. The control group included neonates who did not require resuscitation. Cord blood was collected at birth, centrifuged, serum separated, and stored at -20⁰C. Malondialdehyde (MDA) was read at 535nm on spectrometry.

Results: 102 neonates were enrolled, among which 29 neonates were asphyxiated and 73 non-asphyxiated. The cord blood mean MDA level was significantly high in Severe HIE, with a p-value of <0.001. The serum MDA level in cord blood had a significant difference in asphyxiated neonates (8.59±1.99) and normal neonates (3.18±1.04) (P<0.001). There is a significant difference in MDA levels in cord blood; the mean MDA level was significantly higher in HIE III (10.93±2.50), compared to HIE II (9.98±2.34) and HIE I(7.72±1.09) with a p-value of <0.001. Deceased neonates had higher MDA levels than those neonates who survived.

Conclusion: Neonates with high oxidative stress at birth require advanced resuscitation. MDA levels above 7.64 mm/L have 100% sensitivity and 81.4% specificity with respect to mortality in asphyxiated neonates. Hence, cord blood MDA can be a prognostic marker of oxidative stress to predict the outcomes in asphyxiated neonates.

Comparative Analysis of Parenting Styles and their Impact on Children's Well-Being: A Cross-Cultural Perspective in Malaysia, China, and Taiwan

2024-03-25T13:12:35+00:00

Introduction: This research provides an in-depth comparative analysis of parenting styles and their associated communication patterns in Malaysia, Taiwan, and the Chinese mainland. It also explores how they affect children's well-being through social and emotional development. The study examined the evolving parenting styles in four areas: language and verbal communication, non-verbal communication, gender roles and gendered communities, and family communication.

Methods: A comprehensive literature search focused on journal articles published between 2018 and 2023. The scientific databases employed for this search encompassed reputable platforms such as Web of Science (WOS), Scopus, PubMed, and Google Scholar.

Results: In the language and verbal communication domain, this research offers insights into how parents utilize language as a tool for discipline and emotional expression, indicating a gradual transition in communication styles from authoritarian to democratic. Non-verbal communication sheds light on the nuanced yet impactful ways emotions and norms are conveyed, encompassing eye contact and body gestures. Gender roles and gendered communities unveil a shift in perspectives from traditional to more egalitarian. As these countries or regions progress socially and economically, a transformation in the perception and implementation of gender roles is observed, influencing parenting strategies and children's self-concept. This paper amalgamates these aspects within the realm of family communication to underscore the growing influence of mutual communication and open dialogue in enriching parent-child relationships.

Conclusion: The paper concludes that parenting styles are evolving with changing social norms, indicating the adaptability and responsiveness of parents to dynamic social dynamics, ultimately proving advantageous to children's development.

Interaction between T Cells and Endothelial Cells: Insights into Immune Response and Vascular Health among Children

2024-03-25T13:12:32+00:00

The functioning of T cells, key players in the immune response, is inherently influenced by specific nutrients. Understanding how dietary factors influence T cell function is pivotal in the context of child health. Eendothelial cell antigen presentation to T cells influences the outcome of several immune system functions. However, the consequences of these interactions are still discussed, with different responses observed depending on the phenotype and functional reactivity of both cells. Relating our findings to specific nutrition-related diseases in children, such as obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular issues, establishes a direct link between T cell-endothelium interactions and pediatric health outcomes. The role of nutritional interventions extends beyond meeting basic dietary needs; it plays a dynamic role in shaping immune responses in children. Recognizing the interconnectedness of nutrition and immunology allows for developing targeted strategies. In this study, we find a close relationship between T lymphocytes (CTL) and endothelium, which is required and important for proliferation and differentiation to determine the size of the cell mass in the circulation. With an eye towards therapeutic opportunities, this review discusses in detail the link between both, how they are each activated, their substrates, and their regulation, and maps out how they interact.