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Abstract: Background: Globally, stunting is a public health concern, more of in developing counties, including Ethiopia. Once occurred, in the first two years of life, it is irreversible and has long-lasting harmful consequences. Exploring the determinants has pivotal importance for evidence-based interventions. Therefore, the rationale of this study was to identify determinants of stunting among children aged 6-23 months in the pastoralist community, Afar region, Ethiopia. Keywords: Afar, Case-control, Children aged 6-23 months, Ethiopia, Golina district, Pastoralist, Stunting. |
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Abstract: Sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) consumption among children and adolescents is a public health concern, as up to 88% consume them on a daily basis. While much research has been done regarding what types of foods parents feed their children and how that is linked to various health outcomes, research determining how parents monitor there children’s SSB consumption has not been well studied. Identifying important environmental and psychosocial determinants of parental-monitoring behaviors is a greatly needed area for investigation. The purpose of this study was to develop and validate a theory-based instrument related to this parenting practice. Initially, a 41-item instrument was developed and face and content validity were established using a panel of 6 experts. Next, the survey was administered to 270 parents (29 parents completed the survey twice). Psychometric properties tested of the instrument included construct validity, using the maximum likelihood extraction method of factor analysis, internal consistency reliability, using Cronbach’s alpha, and test-retest reliability using Pearson-product moment correlations between instrument results taken at two separate occasions. Initial results suggested some scales required re-specification, which included removing weak and/or non-related items. Results from this study can be used to assist future health professionals and researchers for measuring theory-based determinants of parental practices related to monitoring SSB consumption. This process can also be replicated to construct instruments measuring other critical obesogenic behaviors, such as monitoring fruit and vegetable consumption, or physical activity. Keywords: Sugar sweetened beverage consumption, parental monitoring, childhood obesity. |
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Abstract: Background: The ability to determine the relationship between diet and health outcomes in children requires reproducible and validated long-term dietary assessment tools such as food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). Objective: To test the reproducibility and relative validity of a FFQ for young children using 24-hour food recalls (24HRs), anthropometric measurements, and a comprehensive feeding practices questionnaire (CFPQ). Methods: Children (aged 5-6) and their mothers were recruited during one school-year (2008) from preschools. Children's anthropometric measurements were obtained. Mothers provided during a personal interview on three occasions a 110-item semiquantitative FFQ, 24HRs and CFPQ. Pearson-correlation coefficients were calculated between the results of the FFQ and 3*24HR. Validity coefficients between the FFQ and the different measurements were calculated. Scores of the 12 factors of the CFPQ were calculated and related to dietary intake. Results: Sixty-six healthy children (47% boys) were recruited. Pearson's correlations between the average of the FFQs and 3*24HRs ranged from 0.3-0.6 (P<0.05). The highest correlation coefficients were 0.59 for total fat intake and 0.56 for energy. Dietary intake of energy and carbohydrates differed significantly (P=0.05, 0.001 respectively) across the three BMI z-score levels (normal-weight, overweight, obese) and the three waist circumference tertiles (0.019, 0.006 respectively). Obesogenic factors from the CFPQ correlated with consumption of empty calories like sweets, snacks, junk foods and sweet drinks. Conclusions: The modified FFQ is a relatively valid instrument to estimate mean energy intake in preschool children. The questionnaire performs reasonably well to rank children with respect to macronutrients intake as well as obesogenic food groups. Keywords: Child(ren), Validation, Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ), Nutrition, Preschool, Nutrient Assessment.Download Full Article |
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Abstract: Background: We previously validated a four-day complementary food frequency questionnaire (CFFQ) to estimate the nutrient intake in New Zealand infants aged 9-12 months. However, manual entry of the CFFQ data into nutritional analysis software was time-consuming. Therefore, we developed an automated algorithm and evaluated its accuracy by comparing the nutrient estimates with those obtained from the nutritional analysis software. Keywords: Infant and child nutrition, dietary intake assessment, food frequency questionnaire, infant feeding, complementary feeding. |
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Abstract: Background: Premature infants are at increased risk of developing Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), which for these children is associated with a number of severe symptoms. There is great need for effective instruments and clear symptom criteria to assess the presence and degree of severity of GERD. Aim: To develop and pilot test an observation instrument for early detection of symptoms of GERD in premature infants. Method: A combination of three research methods was used – systematic literature review, observation instrument development and a pilot test. Results: The systematic review identified specific symptoms of GERD. The development of the observational instrument started with the establishment of concordance between the criteria of symptoms according to the literature review and to NIDCAP, “Newborn Individualized Developmental Care and Assessment Program”. In the pilot test the criteria of symptoms were revised by comparing the result and the criteria between infants that clinically were estimated to have had a reflux problem and the ones who did not. Conclusion: An observation instrument was developed. The clinical evaluation by a pilot test showed that the instrument could be useful to record significant symptoms and combinations of symptoms that may occur in premature infants assessed as having reflux problems. Keywords: Premature infants, GERD symptoms, and observation instruments.Download Full Article |