Early childhood development (ECD) is the foundation for health, cognitive ability, and social and economic productivity throughout life. Nutritional deprivation and socio-economic inequality continue to constrain developmental potential in low- and middle-income countries. This study aimed to assess the nutritional, socio-economic, and caregiving factors associated with early childhood development among children aged 3–4 years in Bangladesh. Data from the 2019 Bangladesh Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS), a nationally representative survey, were analyzed. The Early Childhood Development Index (ECDI) was constructed across four domains: literacy-numeracy, physical, social-emotional, and learning. A three-level ordinal outcome (not on track, partially on track, and on track) was derived. Survey-adjusted partial proportional odds models were estimated using Stata 17 to account for the complex sampling design. The proportional odds assumption was evaluated using a design-adjusted Wald test. Among the 8,752 children included in the analysis, 73.3% were developmentally on track, 23.6% were partially on track, and 3.2% were not on track. After adjustment, children without functional disabilities had substantially higher odds of being developmentally on track (AOR = 3.93). Stunted children had 17% lower odds of optimal developmental outcomes (AOR = 0.83). Higher maternal education (AOR = 1.17 per level increase), greater household wealth (AOR = 1.11 per quintile increase), attendance in early childhood education programs (AOR = 1.53), female sex (AOR = 1.40), and increasing age were positively associated with developmental attainment. The interplay of nutritional, socio-economic, and caregiving factors significantly shapes early childhood development in Bangladesh. Developmental outcomes can be improved through interventions addressing child undernutrition, educational inequality, and disability inclusion. A comprehensive and equitable policy framework is necessary to maximize opportunities for children's early development.
Introduction: Stunting is a major public health problem that affects the growth and development of children under five. Functional foods in child-friendly forms may provide an alternative nutritional approach to support linear growth and stunting prevention. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the potential of red ginger extract gummy candy as a functional food to support linear growth and stunting prevention among children under five. Method: This quasi-experimental study used intervention and control groups. Children in the intervention group received red ginger extract gummy candy, while those in the control group received a placebo for one month. Changes in height and weight were assessed before and after the intervention. Result: The Shapiro–Wilk test showed that the anthropometric data were not normally distributed (p<0.05). In the intervention group, height increased significantly after the intervention (p=0.005), whereas the change in body weight was not statistically significant (p=0.161). In the control group, neither body weight (p=0.138) nor height (p=0.059) showed statistically significant changes. However, the Mann–Whitney U test showed no statistically significant difference between the intervention and control groups in changes in body weight (p=0.970) or height (p=0.701).. Conslusion: Red ginger gummy candy was associated with a significant increase in height within the intervention group, but the change was not significantly different from the control group. Further studies with larger samples and longer interventions are needed to determine its potential in supporting linear growth.
OBJECTIVE: This study aims to examine the experiences of Rohingya migrant mothers residing in the Kutupalong Refugee Camp in Bangladesh. The research focuses on understanding the challenges these mothers face during the migration process, the barriers they encounter in accessing healthcare services, their experiences related to child care, and the psychosocial stressors they are exposed to in the camp environment. Additionally, the study seeks to develop policy recommendations to enhance their living conditions. METHODS: This study was conducted using a qualitative research design with a phenomenological approach. Semi-structured, in-depth interviews were conducted with 15 Rohingya mothers residing in the Kutupalong Refugee Camp. Participants were selected through purposive sampling based on the criteria of having at least one child, having personally experienced the migration process, and having lived in the camp for at least one year. The interviews were conducted in the Rohingya language with the assistance of a local translator and focused on themes such as migration-related trauma, access to healthcare services, childcare, and psychosocial challenges. The data were analyzed using thematic analysis, and main themes and subthemes were identified. RESULTS: The study identified four main themes. Migration Process and Trauma includes the physical and psychological hardships endured by mothers during migration, as well as violence, losses, and dangerous journeys. Challenges in Accessing Healthcare Services emphasizes the inadequacy of healthcare services within the camp, barriers to accessing external healthcare services, and frequent misdiagnoses and incomplete treatments. Childcare and Nutrition covers issues such as inadequate hygiene conditions, problems with access to clean water, malnutrition, and the struggle against common illnesses in children. Psychosocial Issues and Security Concerns include trauma and psychological problems stemming from incidents such as child abductions, fires, violence, and economic difficulties within the camp. Mothers have significant concerns about ensuring the safety of their children and meeting their basic needs. CONCLUSION: This study highlights the significant challenges faced by Rohingya mothers in refugee camps. Barriers to accessing healthcare services, inadequate childcare and nutrition conditions, psychosocial stressors, and security concerns clearly illustrate the extent of the humanitarian crisis experienced by Rohingya refugees. The research emphasizes the need for comprehensive policies to improve living conditions in refugee camps for both the international community and local governments. Enhancing healthcare services, improving hygiene and nutrition conditions, providing psychosocial support services, and addressing security concerns are essential for enhancing the well-being of Rohingya refugees. This study makes a valuable contribution to the literature on refugee experiences and provides a foundation for future research.
Musa Özsavran, Tülay Kuzlu Ayyıldız, SUMAYA SIDDIQUE AHMED et al.
Stunting is a chronic nutritional problem characterized by impaired linear growth and influenced by multiple factors, including inadequate energy intake. This study aimed to determine the association between average energy intake and stunting severity among children aged 6–24 months in the working area of Bagu Public Health Center, Central Lombok Regency, in 2025. An analytic observational study with a cross-sectional design was conducted among 43 mothers of stunted children selected using total sampling. Stunting status was obtained from Maternal and Child Health (KIA) handbooks, while energy intake was assessed using a 24-hour food recall and categorized according to intake adequacy. Fisher’s Exact Test was used for bivariate analysis because the data did not meet the assumptions of the Chi-square test. Of the 43 children, 40 (93.0%) had deficient energy intake and 3 (7.0%) had adequate intake. A total of 27 children (62.8%) were classified as stunted and 16 (37.2%) as severely stunted. The mean energy intake was 592.8 kcal/day. Fisher’s Exact Test showed no significant association between energy intake and stunting severity (p = 0.385). Although no significant association was observed, inadequate energy intake remains an important nutritional concern among children aged 6–24 months.
This study evaluates the impact of Village Fund allocation for health on stunting reduction as an investment in human capital in Lamongan Regency. Using village-level data for 2023–2024, the study applies Propensity Score Matching (PSM) and Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) to examine supporting factors. The PSM results indicate that villages receiving the intervention experienced a statistically significant reduction in stunting prevalence of approximately 1.2 percentage points compared with non-treated villages. The OLS results show that the Village Fund intervention has a negative but marginally significant association with stunting prevalence, while posyandu activity, supplementary feeding, child immunization, and basic-service access are statistically insignificant. These findings highlight the importance of targeted and integrated village-level interventions.
The interconnections among food systems, poverty, and malnutrition remain central to Bangladesh’s development trajectory. Despite substantial agricultural growth and notable reductions in poverty over the past two decades, structural challenges continue to constrain equitable access to food and nutrition. This study analyzes agricultural production trends, food system drivers, and consumption behaviors, situating Bangladesh in a comparative South Asian context. Using national survey data and secondary statistics, it further examines poverty dynamics, both income-based and multidimensional and their implications for food insecurity and nutrition outcomes. The empirical evidence highlights persistent disparities in dietary diversity, caloric intake, and affordability of healthy diets across rural–urban and socio-economic groups. Moreover, the prevalence of child undernutrition and the double burden of malnutrition underscore the fragility of current nutrition gains. The findings suggest that external shocks, including climate variability, market volatility, and global food price fluctuations, exacerbate systemic vulnerabilities. Policy analysis indicates that while government interventions in agriculture, poverty alleviation, and nutrition have achieved incremental success, gaps remain in coordination, targeting, and long-term sustainability. The paper argues for integrated, multisectoral strategies that enhance agricultural productivity, strengthen social protection mechanisms, and promote resilient, nutrition-sensitive food systems. Such approaches are essential to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) on zero hunger, poverty reduction, and improved health outcomes in Bangladesh.
Introduction Disseminated Bacillus Calmette–Guérin (BCG) disease is a rare but life-threatening complication in children with primary immunodeficiency (PID). Linezolid (LZD) is effective but limited by myelosuppression. Contezolid (CZD), a novel oxazolidinone, has shown better hematological safety in adults, but pediatric data are scarce. This retrospective case series aims to provide real-world experience on CZD use in this challenging population. Case description We report three children (aged 3–9.5 months) with PID (Wiskott–Aldrich syndrome, X-linked severe combined immunodeficiency, and IL-12 receptor β1 deficiency) who developed clinically presumed or confirmed disseminated BCG disease after routine vaccination. All received CZD-containing regimens (12–20 mg/kg/dose, q12 h) alongside other antimycobacterial agents and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Outcomes Over 11–12 months of CZD-containing multidrug therapy followed by 1 year of post-treatment telephone follow-up, all patients achieved satisfactory clinical resolution of infectious lesions and no clinical relapse was observed. No CZD-attributable hematological, hepatic, renal, or neurological adverse events occurred. However, because all patients received concurrent HSCT and multiple antimycobacterial agents, the independent contribution of CZD cannot be determined. Conclusion CZD-containing regimens were well tolerated and associated with clinical improvement in these complex cases. CZD may serve as a valuable alternative when LZD is poorly tolerated. However, definitive attribution of efficacy to CZD alone is precluded by concurrent HSCT and multi-drug therapy.
Child mortality is often framed narrowly as a health issue, yet it reflects deeper structural inequalities, institutional deficiencies, and societal factors. This qualitative study investigates the representations of child deaths in Turkey by analyzing media discourse and the professional experiences of those working with children. Utilizing content analysis of 278 news articles from Cumhuriyet newspaper (2000–2024) alongside in-depth interviews with 25 professionals from social work, psychology, law, midwifery, and education, the research reveals divergent narratives: media portrayals tend to individualize and dramatize incidents, whereas professionals emphasize systemic causes such as social determinants, policy gaps, and institutional failures. The findings underscore the critical role of media visibility in shaping public awareness and highlight the need for interdisciplinary, rights-based approaches to prevention. Ultimately, the study calls for integrated policy frameworks that address child mortality through social justice, legal accountability, and cross-sector collaboration, moving beyond health-centric paradigms to safeguard children’s rights and well-being.
Background Parent-administered massage-based interventions are increasingly used in family-centered care for preterm infants, but their effects across infant and parental outcomes remain uncertain. Objective To systematically evaluate the effects of parent-administered massage-based interventions on growth, feeding, hospitalization, neurodevelopmental, and parental psychological outcomes in preterm infants. Methods We conducted a PRISMA 2020-compliant systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, and Web of Science were searched from inception to 26 May 2026. Eligible studies compared parent-administered massage alone or combined with tactile, kinesthetic, oral, or other developmental sensory components against routine care or non-massage controls. Random-effects models with restricted maximum-likelihood estimation were used. Parental psychological outcomes were synthesized narratively because of substantial heterogeneity. Risk of bias was assessed with RoB 2, and certainty of evidence with GRADE. Results Twenty-four randomized controlled trials were included. Moderate-certainty evidence indicated that massage-based interventions were associated with higher odds of breastfeeding or human-milk feeding at discharge (OR 5.42, 95% CI 2.44–11.94), shorter time to full oral feeding (MD −2.04 days, 95% CI −3.95 to −0.13), and shorter hospital length of stay (MD −4.68 days, 95% CI −7.79 to −1.57). Weight-gain velocity was greater in the primary meta-analysis (MD 5.55 g/day, 95% CI 1.71–9.38), but certainty was low, heterogeneity was very high (I 2 = 97.87%), significant small-study effects were detected, and the trim-and-fill adjusted estimate was attenuated and no longer statistically significant (MD 3.45 g/day, 95% CI −1.67 to 8.56). Parent-related psychological findings were generally favorable but were supported by low-certainty evidence. Effects on length growth, head-circumference growth, and motor development were not statistically significant; certainty for length and head-circumference growth was very low. Conclusion Moderate-certainty evidence suggests that parent-administered massage-based interventions may improve selected feeding outcomes and reduce hospital length of stay in preterm or low-birth-weight infants. The effect on weight-gain velocity remains uncertain because of very high heterogeneity, low certainty of evidence, and possible small-study effects. However, many interventions were multimodal and heterogeneity was substantial; therefore, the findings should be interpreted as effects of parent-delivered developmental-care interventions that include massage rather than massage alone, and the independent effect of massage requires confirmation. Systematic review registration https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/view/CRD420261435482 , identifier CRD420261435482.
Background School-based physical activity (PA) interventions are a population-level strategy for improving children’s health, yet evidence on their combined effects on physical fitness and psychosocial adaptation remains fragmented. This systematic review and meta-analysis synthesized evidence from controlled intervention trials (randomized and non-randomized) examining school-based PA interventions on physical fitness (cardiorespiratory fitness, muscular fitness, body composition) and psychosocial adaptation (self-esteem, psychological well-being, social functioning) in children aged 6–12 years. Methods Following PRISMA 2020 guidelines, we searched PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, SPORTDiscus, Cochrane Library, and PsycINFO from inception to 15 January 2026. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and non-randomized controlled trials with a minimum 8-week school-based PA intervention and at least one physical fitness or psychosocial outcome were eligible. Random-effects meta-analyses were performed using Hedges’ g. Heterogeneity was assessed with I2 and Cochran’s Q. Risk of bias was evaluated using the Cochrane Risk of Bias 2 tool for RCTs and ROBINS-I for non-randomized trials. Results Forty studies (39 randomized, 1 non-randomized) involving 21,793 participants met inclusion criteria. School-based PA interventions were associated with significant improvements in cardiorespiratory fitness (g = 0.36, 95% CI [0.25, 0.46], p < 0.001, I2 = 98%) and muscular fitness (g = 0.24, 95% CI [0.17, 0.31], p < 0.001, I2 = 93%); the small reduction in body mass index did not reach statistical significance (g = −0.11, 95% CI [−0.27, 0.04], p = 0.154, I2 = 98%). For psychosocial outcomes, significant small effects were found for self-esteem (g = 0.18, 95% CI [0.10, 0.27], p < 0.001), psychological well-being (g = 0.15, 95% CI [0.09, 0.21], p < 0.001), and social functioning (g = 0.21, 95% CI [0.04, 0.38], p = 0.018). Exploratory subgroup analyses suggested that larger effects were associated with multicomponent interventions, durations of ≥24 weeks, and ≥3 sessions per week. Conclusion School-based PA interventions were associated with small-to-moderate improvements in physical fitness and small improvements in psychosocial adaptation in children. The findings support integrating comprehensive PA programs into school curricula. However, the small effect sizes for psychosocial outcomes and substantial heterogeneity underscore the need for rigorous studies with standardized measurement protocols.
