In today’s world, there is a strong and ubiquitous connection between electronic media and children. Children are exposed to electronic media from an early age. Even though electronic media can provide entertainment and educational content, its effect on children’s development is a matter of concern. Excessive screen usage might promote sedentary habits and impede social and emotional growth. Well-being of children depends on finding the right balance between utilising the advantages of electronic media and minimising their risk. The purpose of study was to assess the mother’s perception regarding effect of electronic media on child well-being. The descriptive study was adopted a convenient non-probability sampling technique. Data from 100 mothers were gathered by self-constructed child well-being scale. The self-constructed well-being scale was measured based on Domains Physical well-being, Emotional well-being, social well-being and Coping behaviour of child.The result denotes that the mean value of mother’s perception regarding effect of electronic media on child well-being was 114.4, 63% of respondents identified mild effects, 34% had optimum well-being and 3% had moderate effects of using electronic media on their child’s well-being. Electronic media has become part of daily life, and many technology projects target children, who often find them entertaining. Due to its enticing features and program, electronic media is drawing children’s attention. Usage of electronic media can have both positive and negative effect. Since children do not yet understand the negative effect of electronic media , its critical to limit media usage among Z generation. Key words: Effect, mother’s perception, Electronic media, wellbeing
In any region or community, mothers and children constitute the priority group. Maternal and Child Health (MCH) has remained a crucial public health service and a global concern for decades. Since the year 2000, enhancing the health of mothers and children has been a top priority for global development, with a significant reduction in maternal and child mortality as one of the Millennium Development Goals, further continuing as one of the global targets for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2030. According to United Nations (UN) interagency estimates, the worldwide Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) fell by 34% between 2000 and 2020, from 339 to 223 deaths per 100,000 live births, corresponding to an average yearly decline rate of 2.1%, which is almost one-third of the 6.4% annual rate required to attain SDG target of 70 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births by 2030.[1] Since the progress has been inconsistent, it requires investments and improvement in antenatal, birth, and postpartum care in terms of both access and quality. Over the past two decades, almost 1.3 million Indian women have died from maternal causes. However, the MMR has decreased by 70%, from 398/100,000 live births in 1997 to 98-99/100,000 in 2020, demonstrating significant progress in adopting measures to address the issue.[2] The Indian health-care system dealing with maternal and child care has been striving hard to deliver excellent services to pregnant women and neonates through different interventions and programs, capacity-building programs for health staff, and continuous upgradation of the health-care infrastructure. The Government of India has several initiatives to provide financial and medical support to all pregnant women including Janani Suraksha Yojana, which integrates cash assistance with delivery and postdelivery care;[3]Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram to eliminate out-of-pocket expenses for both pregnant women and sick infants including free deliveries, cesarean section, and treatment of sick neonates accessing public health institutions.[4] Apart from these, the government has taken various steps to ensure assured availability of all facilities to pregnant women in the remote areas of the country which includes setting up of “Delivery Points,” MCH Wings, functionalization of first referral units, birth waiting homes, and launch of other health programs such as Surakshit Matritva Aashwasan (SUMAN), Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan, and LaQshya (Labor room quality improvement initiative).[5] Apart from these, the government has also implemented the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana to provide financial support for pregnant and lactating mothers and to improve the health and nutrition of mother and child as well as compensation for wage loss, if any.[6] CHALLENGES DURING PREGNANCY Each phase in a woman’s life is marked by distinct challenges and opportunities, characterized by significant physical, psychological, and social changes. The period of pregnancy, labor, and postpartum contribute to the health and well-being of the mother and child. This necessitates adequate antenatal care during and following delivery. Women in the reproductive and childbearing age groups deal with several difficulties and obstacles. Women experience specific physiological and psychological changes during pregnancy with specified physical and psychological demands. The well-being and Quality of Life (QoL) of the mother are critical for optimal pregnancy outcomes. Pregnancy-related minor physical illnesses significantly impact overall health and QoL, further impacted by stress, anxiety, and depression in the prenatal stage. This can further severely impact the neurocognitive development of newborns and children, causing unfavorable consequences to the mother and fetus, such as preterm birth, low birth weight, and postpartum depression.[7] Stress and anxiety experienced by the mother during her pregnancy can have several detrimental effects on the developing fetus. Pregnancy-related stress and anxiety in the mother are linked to several detrimental effects on the developing fetus. It has been observed that fetal exposure to stress and stress-related peptides increases the likelihood of negative effects on the neural system’s programming and the morphology of the developing fetus and baby brain. Furthermore, anxiety and stress experienced by pregnant mothers may also increase the risk of adverse outcomes later in life, such as attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder or poor performance on executive function tests.[8] Significant endocrine changes occur during pregnancy, where maternal cortisol levels and other stress hormones rise sharply, and these endocrine changes are critical for fetal development. It has been found that prenatal exposure to high-stress hormone levels has been shown to delay the maturation of the fetal nervous system, limit neuromuscular development, and impair mental development in infants possibly, resulting in reduced gray matter volume in children. This illustrates that fetal exposure to stress hormones and peptides affects the neurological system profoundly, perhaps increasing the risk of emotional and cognitive damage.[9] A significant proportion of women experience postnatal depression, which has substantial social and economic consequences. There is a proven bidirectional relationship between mental and physical health during a postpartum period which can further have detrimental effects on cognitive and psychosocial development as well as psychological outcomes such as anxiety, depression, and externalizing issues in children.[10] YOGA FOR HEALTHY TRANSITION PHASE Recognizing and addressing the unique needs at each stage of women can help to achieve better health, well-being, and fulfillment throughout their lives. One such transition phase is the adolescence phase. Adolescence is a developmental stage that marks the transition from childhood to adulthood, which encompasses significant physical, physiological, psychological, sexual, and behavioral changes. It is a unique stage of human development and an important time for laying the foundations of good health. It has been estimated that over 1.5 million adolescents and young adults aged 10–24 years died in 2021, where depression and anxiety have served as the leading causes of illness and disability among adolescents.[11] These highlight the need for high-level attention on the mental health needs and solutions to address the physical, physiological, emotional, and social issues faced by young adults in the growing years. Yoga as a science of consciousness (~Chitta) can help achieve a state of wakefulness and alertness among such young populations. Studies have shown that Yoga and meditation help in releasing happy hormones such as serotonin and dopamine that help in reducing stress and anxiety disorders.[12] A systematic review to examine the evidence base for Yoga intervention for anxiety reduction among children and adolescents in the age group of 3–18 years reported a reduction in anxiety in almost all studies.[13] Thus, integrating Yoga into the lives of adolescents can support their overall development by enhancing physical health, mental clarity, emotional stability, and social well-being. Given the many challenges adolescents face, Yoga offers a holistic approach to help them navigate this formative period with greater resilience and balance. YOGA AND HEALTHY MATERNAL JOURNEY Ayurveda emphasizes the significance of maintaining a healthy pregnancy, offspring, and optimal nursing for the necessary growth and development of infants which includes holistic nutrition from the time of conception up to delivery as well as to the postpartum period. The principles and concepts are well illustrated in Ayurveda classics which include Rajaswala paricharya (~care of a woman during the menstruation period), Garbhini charya (~antenatal care), and Sutika charya (~postpartum care), addressing the physiological demands at various stages of life of a woman. Furthermore, the science of Ayurveda advocates principles of neonatology, including Navjata shishu paricharya (~comprehensive infant care) from birth until complete stability of the child. Ayurveda also advocates inculcating Yoga practices during these different phases of women to foster the physical and mental well-being of mother and child. Yoga is a physical practice that integrates breathing exercises, relaxation, and physical postures with an emphasis on the mind, body, and soul. Yoga has been reported a positive impact on the health of women during pregnancy, labor, and the postpartum period. In one of the Randomized Controlled Trials (RCT), the effect of a Yoga program during pregnancy was studied on maternal comfort, labor pain, and birth outcomes. The study concluded that the experimental group had higher levels of maternal comfort during labor and postlabor, with lesser labor pain and a shorter duration of the first stage of labor, as well as the total time of labor than the control group.[14] Similarly, in another study, the role of prenatal yogic exercises in alleviating labor pain and improving birth outcomes was assessed using Numerical Pain Intensity Scale, Pain Behavioral Observational Scale, and Maternal Delivery Comfort Questionnaire. The study revealed that the requirement of induction of labor and analgesics was significantly less in the study group with significantly a greater number of normal vaginal deliveries and less cesarean sections, the shorter first stage of labor in the study group practicing Yoga. Furthermore, the number of low-birth-weight babies was also significantly less in the study group with no adverse effects attributed to Yoga.[15] According to a randomized trial on Yoga in high-risk pregnancies, visualization, and guided Yoga poses can enhance intrauterine fetal growth and utero-fetal-placental circulation.[16] Through a stratified RCT, it has been proved that antenatal-integrated Yoga is safe and effective in encouraging the healthy development of platelets and uric acid in women with high-risk pregnancies.[17] Evidence generated through RCTs has shown a reduction in pain, stress, anxiety, and depression, with proven improvement in labor metrics such as comfort, pain, and length as well as stress levels and QoL, confirming beneficial impacts on anxiety, depression, perceived stress, delivery, and labor time.[18] Consequently, to lower the risks associated with pregnancy and delivery, Yoga should be included in the treatment protocol of labor and delivery and routine midwifery nursing care. Maternal mental health is particularly vulnerable during the postnatal period, and thus, it is imperative to utilize feasible and affordable approaches to enhance postnatal mental well-being. Yoga has proven its role as a beneficial intervention for the mental health and well-being of mothers. Previous studies have suggested that postnatal Yoga is associated with decreased symptoms of depression and an increase in psychological well-being and QoL.[10] GLOBAL POSITIONING AND STRENGTHENING OF YOGA Yoga has developed over thousands of years and addresses the mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual health of individuals, especially women. Yoga therapy improves many aspects of health and the different components of Yoga work in different ways. “Yoga” refers to the unification of the individual’s consciousness with the Universal Divine Consciousness, which can be attained through a wide range of practices, including specific Yoga asanas, breathing exercises, cleansing exercises, meditation, and relaxation techniques. Due to its profound impact on the physical as well as mental well-being and health of individuals, a tremendous encouragement to this several decades old, “science of Yoga” was received in the year 2014. It was on December 11, 2014, responding to a call by the Honorable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, 193 UN General Assembly members, and 73 co-sponsor nations, unanimously approved the resolution of the UN to establish June 21 as the International Day of Yoga (IDY). Since June 21, 2015, numerous Yoga-related events and programs have been held around the world to commemorate the IDY. YOGA AND INITIATIVES BY MINISTRY OF AYUSH Several initiatives have been taken by the Ministry of Ayush (MoA) to promote Yoga across the globe in promoting and popularizing this ancient practice as well as positioning Yoga as an evidence-based health-care system. To promote Indian classical Yoga for the well-being of individuals, the MoA has established a Yoga Certification Board with the objectives to bring synergy, quality, and uniformity in knowledge and skills of Yoga professionals across the world through certification programs. The MoA has also launched a scheme for Voluntary Certification of Yoga Professionals which aims at certifying the competence level of Yoga professionals through the certification process and promoting authentic Yoga as a preventive and health-promoting drugless therapy.[19] Apart from these, broad outreach initiatives with public–private partnerships improving accessibility to Yoga instruction and therapy through a network of Ayush Health and Wellness Centers are being taken by the Ministry. Under the National AYUSH Mission, the Ministry promotes the integration of AYUSH systems, including Yoga, into the public health system, with special emphasis being placed on MCH, recognizing the role of Yoga in improving health outcomes for women. Moreover, community-based Yoga programs such as Yoga Mahotsav and Yoga Volunteer Training Programs are being organized, specifically targeting women’s groups, to create a supportive environment where women can practice Yoga together, share experiences, and build a sense of community. Contributing to the initiative to strengthen the role of Yoga in the community, especially among women and females of reproductive age, the All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA) has developed a protocol for “standard operating procedures in preconceptional and prenatal care through Ayurveda” where the importance of Yoga, Pranayama (~breathing exercise), and meditation has been emphasized, and month-wise Yogasanas are mentioned for the pregnant women with their importance. Efforts are being made to increase the number of RCT trials to determine the effects of Yoga intervention in pregnancy, postpregnancy, and in infants. There is still a need to carry out more specified studies on Yoga intervention according to a varied range of difficulties and challenges faced by women during the different phases of pregnancy. Significant and impactful studies should be conducted to assess the role of Yoga practices in high-risk pregnancies. An evidence-based approach to develop a prenatal and postnatal Yoga protocol for the well-being of mother and child should be developed, with distinct and specified guidelines according to the different phases and stages of pregnancy. INTERNATIONAL DAY OF YOGA 2024 Owing to the overwhelming response and enthusiasm for Yoga among people across the world, this year, the MoA is celebrating its 10th edition of the IDY 2024 with the theme of “Yoga for Self and Society”. To commemorate 100 Days Countdown to IDY 2024, a grand event of “Yoga Mahotsav 2024” was organized.[20] It has been emphasized that the challenges posed by modern lifestyle disorders as well as Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) can be effectively tackled by integrating Ayush healthcare approaches into the daily lives. In an event organized by AIIA, New Delhi, a well-known motivational speaker, Sister BK Shivani, emphasized the importance and significance of Yoga for the betterment of humanity, and the role of Yoga practice for an informed decision. The science of Yoga has been accepted and adopted by the global community at large with its perceived global dimensions. Yet, there is a lack of knowledge about the benefits of Yoga during prenatal, antenatal, and postnatal periods among women, especially in rural areas along with a lack of motivation to practice Yoga during the most critical period of women. It requires the significant contribution of health workers to make and reinforce innovative Yoga interventions in pregnant women and to develop comprehensive Yoga guidelines to improve maternal and newborn care so that mothers, babies, and families can thrive in longer terms. A holistic, comprehensive, and life-course approach beyond reproductive health is needed to achieve better health for women starting from pregnancy and maintaining throughout the newborn, childhood, adolescence, and aging period. It is apt to refer to the quote of Acharya Charaka, which goes as “स्त्रीषु लोकाः प्रतिष्ठिताः” inferring that the women are noble and plays a pivotal role in the health of the entire universe. Thus, women must be empowered to take care of their health in multiple dimensions.
Sociopolitical events impact population health; parents' perspective of such events crosses demographics, geography, and generations. We elicited changes in U.S. parents' hopes and worries for their children 1 year after the 2016 election via an online survey of school climate, discrimination against child, family health care and security, and macrolevel/future concerns (e.g., environment, postsecondary options). Among n = 1189 respondents, national security (39%), the environment (30.5%), and "continued place in America" (25.7%) were most worrisome. In general linear mixed models, employment buffered against social and material stressors such as discrimination (odds ratio [OR] = 0.67; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.49-0.92), and family health care/security (OR = 0.62; 95% CI = 0.45-0.86) while being of a dominant religion and ethnicity buffered future macrolevel (Christianity, OR = 70; 95% CI = 0.54-0.92/non-Hispanic, OR = 59; 95% CI = 0.39-0.90) and existential "continued place in America" (Christianity, OR = 69; 95% CI = 0.51-0.94/non-Hispanic, OR = 56; 95% CI = 0.36-0.88) worries. Qualitative comments underscored macrolevel worries. Parents represent a unique vantage for gauging how sociopolitical events impact health and well-being.
BACKGROUND: Little is known about changes in child well-being and family quality of life (QoL) among children seeking emergency department care because of mental health concerns over the course of the pandemic. METHODS: Prospective cohort study of children < 18 who visited two paediatric EDs in Alberta, Canada, for an acute mental health concern. Early and late pandemic time periods were defined as 15 March 2020-14 March 2021 and 1 July 2021-30 June 2022, respectively. The Stirling Children's Well-being and Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being scales quantified well-being; the Family Quality of Life Scale assessed family QoL. These scales were completed as soon as possible following the ED visit. Linear regression models assessed the association between pandemic period and the change in well-being and family QoL. RESULTS: One thousand four hundred four children were enrolled during the study time periods (50.4% early, 49.6% late). Seventy-two percent (1009/1404) of participants were White, 53.8% (744/1404) were female, and the median age was 13 (IQR, 11-15) years. Well-being remained unchanged between time periods, whereas family QoL was lower in the late pandemic time period than in the early period (mean difference: -2.16, 95% CI: -3.79, -0.53; p = 0.01). Among children < 13 years, previous mental health care and requiring inpatient admission were negatively associated with well-being. Having an autism diagnosis and a comprehensive ED mental health evaluation were negatively associated with well-being in older children. CONCLUSIONS: Reduced family QoL may signal stressors experienced by caregivers and the lingering consequences of the pandemic. Resources that address well-being and support the family unit are needed to improve the mental health of children.
Conné Lategan, Amanda S. Newton, Jennifer D. Thull‐Freedman et al.
AIMS: The aim of this study was to compare families with a child (2-12 years) with type 1 diabetes (T1D) to families which are not confronted with chronic illness, with regard to children's well-being, parental distress, and parenting behavior. In addition, differences were explored between families whose child has optimal vs suboptimal glycemic control. METHODS: Mothers, fathers, and children of 105 families with pediatric T1D completed questionnaires assessing child well-being, parental distress, and parenting. The control group consisted of 414 families without chronic illness. RESULTS: With regard to child well-being, children with T1D had more adjustment difficulties (as reported by mothers) and lower quality of life (QoL) (as reported by mothers and fathers), whereas children themselves (8-12 years) reported higher QoL compared to controls. In terms of parental distress, mothers, but not fathers, of children with T1D reported more stress, anxiety symptoms, and depressive symptoms than controls. With regard to parenting behavior, parent reports revealed less protectiveness in fathers and less autonomy support and responsiveness in both parents as compared to controls. No differences were found in parent-reported psychological control between parents of children with and without T1D, but children with T1D perceived lowered parental psychological control. Lastly, secondary analyses indicated that especially families with suboptimal child glycemic control showed more maternal distress and worse child well-being (according to parents). CONCLUSIONS: Families confronted with pediatric T1D differ from families without chronic illness: childhood T1D impacts parental perceptions of child well-being and differentially affects mothers' and fathers' distress levels and behaviors.
Cynthia Van Gampelaere, Koen Luyckx, Saskia van der Straaten et al.
ABSTRACT This study investigates the impact of women's empowerment and access to infrastructure on the well‐being of children. Specifically, it analyzes how access to infrastructure influences the well‐being of children and assesses the role of women's empowerment in this relationship. The methodology employed is the two‐stage least squares method on a comprehensive sample of 30 sub‐Saharan African countries from 2000 to 2020. The findings of the study indicate that access to education, healthcare, electricity, and sanitation significantly contributes to reducing child mortality rates and the prevalence of anaemia. Furthermore, when combined with women's empowerment, access to infrastructure exponentiates in a pivotal role in substantially decreasing child mortality and anaemia rates, thereby enhancing overall well‐being. Consequently, the article strongly encourages the construction and expansion of essential infrastructure. Additionally, public policies should improve access for children to infrastructure, including those with special needs and those residing in rural areas and underprivileged communities.
This study examined the associations of multifaceted material hardship measured cross-sectionally and longitudinally with children's wellbeing in the United States. Results from linear regression and child fixed effects models indicated that more intense material hardship had consistent, detrimental associations with child health status and internalizing and externalizing behaviors. More intense longitudinal patterns of material hardship were consistently associated with behaviors only. These findings examine new, multifaceted measures of material hardship and suggest associations between child wellbeing, particularly behavior challenges, and exposure both to multiple forms of material hardship and to more intense long-term patterns of hardship.
ABSTRACT Objective To identify parenting profiles among Singaporean mothers of young children and to examine the longitudinal implications of these profiles for children's well‐being during middle childhood. Background The universality of traditional parenting styles (e.g., authoritative, authoritarian), established in Western contexts, and their implications for child well‐being, has been called into question, with studies conducted with Asian populations suggesting these styles may not be universally applicable. Method Our sample consisted of 411 mother–child dyads drawn from a prebirth cohort in Singapore, where mothers reported on their parenting at child age 4.5 years, and children reported on their evaluation of their mothers' parenting and their own depressive symptoms at ages 9 and 10 years, respectively. Results Three latent class profiles of maternal parenting emerged at child age 4.5 years: Supportive (high use of supportive practices and low use of harsh practices), Supportive‐Harsh (high use of both supportive and harsh practices), and Unsupportive (moderate use of both supportive and harsh practices). Children of Unsupportive mothers reported greater maternal indifference at age 9 years and depressive symptoms at age 10 years compared to children of Supportive or Supportive‐Harsh mothers. Children's evaluation of maternal indifference mediated the association between early maternal parenting profiles and later child depressive symptoms. Conclusion Our findings highlight the variation in parenting profiles in Singapore from well‐established parenting styles, and the greater implications of supportive, compared to harsh, parenting practices for children's well‐being.
The article explores child well-being in Danish early childhood education and care (ECEC) during the time of COVID-19. A phased reopening of Denmark occurred in spring 2020 under strict health guidelines. Two ECEC institutions were followed first-hand to observe the impact of the pandemic on pedagogy and child well-being. Observations and interviews were conducted with follow-up interviews and an online survey a year later. The findings suggest that the pandemic caused pedagogues to work in a more child-sensitive way with elevated staff/child ratios and children in small, fixed groups; however, child well-being was not negatively affected, despite the acute situation.
Domestic violence is a pervasive public health and social issue with consequences that extend beyond survivors to affect caregiver functioning, family relationships, and child development. Children may be affected through direct exposure to violence and through disruptions in the caregiving environment, including caregiver trauma, psychological distress, parenting stress, and reduced emotional availability. This commentary examines a proposed developmental pathway linking domestic violence, parenting self-efficacy, and child well-being. Parenting self-efficacy refers to caregivers' beliefs in their ability to effectively carry out parenting responsibilities and positively influence their children's development. Domestic violence may undermine these beliefs by diminishing caregivers' emotional resources, autonomy, and confidence, potentially affecting parenting practices, parent-child relationships, and children's cognitive, emotional, behavioral, social, and physical well-being. Conversely, stronger parenting self-efficacy may support responsive caregiving, emotional security, adaptive coping, and family resilience. The commentary identifies parenting self-efficacy as a potentially modifiable target and proposes priorities for research, practice, and family-centered intervention. These priorities include expanding qualitative research on family experiences and parenting processes, strengthening parenting self-efficacy through trauma-informed and family-centered approaches, and developing developmentally responsive support for children. Addressing the interconnected needs of caregivers and children may strengthen family functioning and reduce the long-term consequences of domestic violence for children and families.
Vanisha L. Brown, Chelsei K. Granderson, Leah R. Alexander et al.
