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Abstract: Increased screen-time has been linked to unhealthy dietary practices but most studies have looked primarily at television viewing or an amalgam. Therefore the purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between specific screen-time (TV, computer, video game) and a selection of healthy dietary intake measures (calories, carbohydrate, fat, sugar, fruit, vegetables, fibre and sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB)) in a group of Canadian children. We used single day sedentary and dietary recalls to assess sedentary behaviour and diet in 1423 children (9.90 (0.58) y; 737 girls, 686 boys) from the Action Schools! BC Dissemination study. Correlations and multiple regression analyses were used to explore sedentary behaviour-diet relationships. TV and video game use were correlated with higher calories, fat, sugar and SSB consumption (r = 0.07 to 0.09; p <.01) and lower fibre intake (r = -0.05 to -0.06; p <.05). TV use was also correlated with lower fruit and vegetable intake. Regression analyses showed that when controlling for other variables, only TV and video game use predicted sugar and SSB consumption (β =.06 to.08; p <.05). Computer use was correlated with calories but did not significantly predict any of the measures of dietary intake. Although screen time was significantly associated with less healthy eating profiles, it did not account for much variance in dietary behaviour of these children. Keywords: Healthy diet, sedentary, screen, children, non-screen. |
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Abstract: According to literature initiation of breastfeeding is common but exclusive breastfeeding is last one month post delivery in most Saudi women, where continuation to exclusively breastfeed is still challenging. This review discussed breastfeeding patterns, factors associated, and possible approaches to prolong breastfeeding duration in Saudi Arabia. Our review has shown that the early introduction of formula makes the mixed-feeding the most popular feeding method used among the Saudi population. The most frequent reason reported was insufficient milk followed by medical and lifestyle factors. Younger, employed, and higher-educated women were found to be less likely to breastfeed therefore a greater effort probably is required with those women. According to literature, the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) was found to be an effective tool in increasing breastfeeding duration worldwide, in Saudi Arabia only one study has published and found that BFHI is effective in initiating breastfeeding but formula was introduced after hospital discharge. We recommend increasing Saudi women’s confidence about breastfeeding, educating them and introducing other strategies such as peer counselling. Keywords: Breastfeeding, Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative, Nutrition education, peer support, breastfeeding initiation, breastfeeding confidence. |
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Abstract: Objective: The main aim of the study was to identify factors contributing to positive deviance in growth of children in rural communities of Northern Ghana. Methods: Weassessed factors contributing to nutritional positive deviance among rural poor households by comparing household feeding care practices and health seeking behaviour in families with normal children (that is, neither stunted nor wasted) with children having at least one form of under nutrition. Results:The prevalence of stunting and wasting was 28.0 % (CI: 25.3 - 30.9), and 10.5 % (CI: 9.0 - 12.3) respectively. Multivariable logistic regression adjusted for cluster sampling showed that positive deviant children (that is, neither wasted nor stunted) were 2.4 times more likely to have taller (≥160 cm) mothers [AOR 2.38; 95% CI (1.83 - 3.10)]. Female children were significantly more likely to be positive deviant [AOR 1.44; 95% CI (1.17 - 1.77)]. Households using salt of adequate iodine content were more likely to have positive deviant children [AOR 1.36; 95% CI (1.03 - 1.80)]. Conclusion and Recommendation:Positive deviance in child growth was characterized by taller mothers, being a female child, high maternal nutrition knowledge and being resident in the Upper West Region. The persistent high levels of child under nutrition in Northern Ghana can be mediated through a sustainable focused intervention strategy to improve maternal nutrition. Keywords: IYCF practices, nutritional status, positive deviance, maternal height, Northern Ghana. |
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Abstract: Background: Child malnutrition is a major public health problem in Zimbabwe and it has been one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in children under five years of age in the City of Harare. Methods: An analytic cross sectional survey was conducted on 342 mothers – child pairs of children aged 0 – 59 months in Harare’s suburbs between July and August 2014.The aim of the study was to identify factors associated with the high levels of stunting among children age 0 – 59 months. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were used to establish the risk factors for U5 years stunting. Findings: A total of 29.2% of the children were stunted with (19.3% being moderately stunted and 9.9% severely stunted). More females (32.9%) were stunted compared to (25.9%) males. The main contributing factors for stunting among the children 0 - 59 months were found to be lack of mother’s education adjusted pOR=0.49 (95%CI: 1.04-3.27); being unemployed pOR=1.22 (95%CI: 1.08-2.03); residing in high density suburbs pOR=2.14 (95%CI: 1.61-7.55); child ever being hospitalized pOR=1.04 (95%CI: 1.01-2.14); breastfed after > 1 hour after birth pOR=1.11 (95%CI: 1.09-1.80); complementary feeds < 6 months pOR=1.30 (95%CI: 1.17-2.21); low birth weight pOR=1.46 (95%CI: 1.29-3.51) and having a poor dietary diversity pOR=1.07 (95%CI: 1.01-1.84). Conclusions: Lack of mother’s education is the principal risk factor for stunting among the under five children in Harare exacerbated by unemployment of either the father or mother or relative, area of residence, feeding practices, birth weight, illness and infections and household dietary diversity. Stunting is on the increase in Harare. The findings also revealed a high level of in-equalities in social determinants of health since stunting is related to socio-economic factors. Recommendations: Any nutrition intervention has to use strategies that will comprehensively address the social determinants of health and improve the standard of living of households in the high density areas so as to have a ripple effect on the nutritional status of U5s. Keywords: Stunting, mother-child pair, risk factors, social determinants of health. |
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Abstract: The aim of this study was to determine the factors influencing acute exacerbation of bronchial asthma among children in Malaysia. A cross-sectional study was done to identify the factors influencing acute exacerbation of asthma in the University Malaya Medical Centre. In this study 103 known asthmatic children between the ages of 2 to 12 years were analysed. Among the children, 60% had a family history of asthma, 39% allergic rhinitis and only 17% eczema. The main complaints were coryza (84%) and shortness of breath (88%). Majority of the patients were treated as out-patient (58%) and only two were admitted in Intensive Care Unit. The factors that were significantly associated with mild exacerbation compared to a moderate to severe exacerbation was well-controlled asthmatic, good compliance to medications and those who had regular follow up. Keywords: Bronchial asthma, exacerbation, factors associated.Download Full Article |