Exclusive breastfeeding plays a vital role in reducing infant morbidity and mortality, as well as preventing stunting from an early age. However, low milk production and anxiety during the postpartum period often hinder successful breastfeeding. Non-pharmacological approaches such as oxytocin massage are proven to stimulate the let-down reflex, yet community knowledge and family skills remain limited. This community service activity aims to increase the knowledge of breastfeeding mothers and their families regarding oxytocin massage as a non-pharmacological effort to enhance breast milk production at Posyandu Lavender, Cibiuk Village, Ciranjang District, Cianjur Regency. The activity involved 20 participants consisting of 14 breastfeeding mothers (70.0%) and 6 family companions/husbands (30.0%). Methods included interactive lectures, demonstrations, hands-on practice, pre-test/post-test evaluations, and satisfaction surveys. The results showed a significant increase in the average knowledge score by 35.50 percentage points (a 66.35% increase), rising from a pre-test mean of 53.50 (60.0% in the poor category) to a post-test mean of 89.00 (85.0% in the good category), with () based on the paired difference test. Psychomotor evaluations showed a 93.3% achievement rate in practical skills among companions, and participant satisfaction reached an average of 95.89% (very high category). Leaflet education combined with practical training effectively improves family understanding and skills regarding oxytocin massage to support successful exclusive breastfeeding.
Needle cuttlefish ( Sepia aculeata ), an abundant yet underutilized cephalopod species in Bangladesh, remains a non-conventional seafood resource with limited nutritional information. This study evaluated the proximate composition, amino acid profile, fatty acid composition, micronutrients, and heavy metals of both edible and non-edible portions of S. aculeata , while recommended nutrient intake (RNI) contribution and economic efficiency were assessed using edible portions only. A total of 172 samples were collected from Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh. Edible portions accounted for 47.60% of total body weight, while non-edible portions constituted 52.40%. Edible portions contained appreciable protein (11.69–11.76%) and lipid (1.79–1.81%) levels, with total amino acids ranging from 12.36 to 12.92 g/100 g and favorable EAA/NEAA ratios (0.88–1.03). The fatty acid profile was dominated by polyunsaturated fatty acids (46.1–48.6% of total fatty acids), particularly EPA (10.4–11.1%) and DHA (20.4–21.6%), with desirable PUFA/SFA (1.20–1.34) and n-3/n-6 (2.37–3.09) ratios. Heavy metal concentrations (As, Cd, Cr, and Pb) in edible portions were below maximum permissible limits. Non-edible portions contained significantly higher concentrations of calcium, iron, zinc, and selenium than edible portions, indicating potential for value-added utilization. A 100 g serving could provide 70.70–70.89% of the daily n-3 LC-PUFA requirement for children aged 6–23 months. Affordability analysis showed that needle cuttlefish supplied protein at 5.0- to 23.5-fold lower cost and n-3 LC-PUFA at approximately 57.8- to 228.8-fold lower cost than the other seafood species assessed (prawn, shrimp, lobster, and mud crab); for zinc, cuttlefish was cheaper than prawn, shrimp, and lobster (up to 1.32-fold), though mud crab had a marginally lower cost. These findings indicate that S. aculeata is a rich source of n-3 LC-PUFAs, as well as a safe and cost-effective seafood resource with potential to improve food and nutrition security in Bangladesh.
Reshadul Islam, Degonto Islam, Zobaer Masum et al.
The positive benefits of the holistic development of children aged 0 to 8 are still not sufficiently understood or valued by families, communities and governments. Across the world, although many countries have the resources and potential, numerous children continue to suffer from neglect and various forms of violence. In Guinea, as in many other contexts, public policies designed to promote early childhood development are not always backed by budgetary resources commensurate with their stated ambitions. Political will is expressed more through official rhetoric than through concrete actions and commitments that are actually fulfilled. This limits the implementation of interventions and results in significant harm to children. Indeed, the aim of this research was to analyse, based on the perceptions of institutional and implementing stakeholders operating in Guinea, as well as policy and programme documents, the existing opportunities that could be harnessed to promote the harmonious development of children aged 0 to 8 in Guinea. Twenty-one participants from 18 institutions (state bodies, UN agencies, international NGOs and civil society organisations) took part in semi-structured interviews in Conakry between 21 November 2024 and 24 April 2025. These interviews revealed that the country is brimming with significant opportunities and that all that is needed is for early childhood to be made a national priority. The notable opportunities highlighted by these stakeholders include the existence of social services; the mobilisation of civil society and community groups; the large number of committed partners and stakeholders; the presence of the mass media to raise awareness, monitor, alert and educate families and children; the existence of mineral resources that are still undervalued; and the existence of a favourable political and framework. The presence of all these favourable factors provides significant leverage for a coordinated and effective multisectoral response in support of children aged 0 to 8. Keywords: early childhood development, Guinea, opportunities, stakeholders, favourable. Received Date: August 17, 2026 Accepted Date: September 09, 2026 Published Date: October 01, 2026 Available Online at: https://www.ijsrisjournal.com/index.php/ojsfiles/article/view/961
Objective: This study aims to provide a bibliometric analysis of the research on nutritional assessment of pre-school children. A total of 292 papers published from the years 2000 to 2026 are analysed. The research study identifies the year-wise publication, most profiled authors, most profiled countries, document type, subject area, funding sponsors, and affiliation. Then, Citation network analysis, co-authorship network analysis, co-occurrence, co-citation, and Bibliographic coupling maps are provided. Methodology: The relevant research documents published during 2000 to 2026 were retrieved from Scopus database. VOSviewer software was used for creating all scientific maps and Microsoft Excel software used for tables. Results: The result of this analysis indicates that the most prominent authors are Bharati, P., Bharati, S., and Boss, K.; most papers were published in the year 2014. Articles (265) are a large collection of publications from the area of nutritional status. Nutritional assessment is primarily conducted in the medical area. Vidyasagar University is a top institution with eight (8) publications. Country-wise, most publications are present in India with forty-six (46) publications. Brazil and Switzerland are linked to other countries. India and the United Kingdom have impressive connections. Preschool children are the most useful keyword among other keywords. Present the strong connection between public health journals, nutrition journals, and clinical medicine journals. The most cited documents include Fernald (2007), Caton (2013), and Maccann (2020). Originality Value: This study is helpful and contributes to the existing literature on nutritional status. The tables as well as the maps created in this research study play an important role in analyzing the nutritional assessment of preschool children. The results can play a significant role in guiding many authors and researchers interested in this subject area. This study can be useful to health professionals for planning nutritional program for increases nutritional knowledge about preschool children.
ABSTRACT Protein-Energy Malnutrition among young children under five years old remains a critical public health concern in many developing countries, particularly in Burundi partly due to the overreliance of high energy but deficient in vitamin A, and essential amino acids such as lysine and tryptophan. Food fortification using animal protein is a potentially sustainable approach to increasing protein quality in young children’s diets. This study aimed to develop and evaluate the nutritional, functional, sensory properties, and stability of the ready-to-use porridge flours formulated using maize-orange-fleshed sweet potato (OFSP) blends fortified with silver cyprinid powder. Six formulations were prepared by the extrusion technique by substituting the blends of maize and OFSP with 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25% of silver cyprinid powder. Proximate, mineral, and beta-carotene compositions, invitro protein digestibility, reactive lysine, water absorption capacity, oil absorption capacity, bulk density, swelling index and consumer acceptability were determined. Additionally, storage stability of the flours was assessed over a period of 12 weeks. Substituting maize-OFSP blends with silver cyprinid powder significantly increased the protein, ash, fat, and mineral contents, the protein digestibility and reactive lysine. Water absorption capacity, bulk density and swelling index significantly decreased while oil absorption capacity increased. The formulated ready-to-use porridge was acceptable and the formulated flours were stable throughout the storage period. The formulated ready-to-use porridge flours fortified with silver cyprinid powder have the potential to serve as complementary foods for alleviating Protein-Energy Malnutrition in infants and young children under 5 years old.
Microbiological diagnosis of childhood pulmonary tuberculosis can be challenging. We investigated the accuracy of Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra on the induced sputum, focused on high-risk groups (infants, malnourished children, and those living with HIV), where data is limited. Children (under 15 years) investigated for pulmonary tuberculosis at Dora Nginza Hospital, South Africa, were prospectively enrolled between January 2018 and January 2024, and followed up for 12 months. Induced sputa were tested with liquid culture and Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra (Ultra). Children were categorized with confirmed, unconfirmed, or unlikely tuberculosis, according to NIH consensus definitions. Ultra diagnostic accuracy was calculated against culture, with analysis by high-risk subgroups. Of 636 children (median age, 27.4 (IQR 11.8-61.6) months), 173 (27.2%) were classified with confirmed TB, 384 (60.4%) with unconfirmed TB, and 79 (12.4%) with unlikely TB. There were 223 (37.8%) children underweight-for-age, 168 (26.5%) living with HIV, and 163 (25.6%) infants. Of 557 children with TB, 145 (26.0%) were confirmed on induced sputa; with 137/557 (24.6%) confirmed on Ultra (46.0%; 63/137, of which were "trace positive"), and 88/557 (15.8%), on culture. Of those confirmed, 57/145 (39.3%) were Ultra positive, culture negative - contributing 10.2% to the overall yield. Ultra performed better in children over 5 years and with weight-for-height Z-scores < -3. Overall, Ultra sensitivity was 90.9% (95%CI 82.9-96.0) and specificity, 89.6% (95%CI 86.7-92.0), with high accuracy across high-risk groups. Mortality amongst children treated for PTB was 4.9% (27/557) with aRR highest for stunted children (7.3; 95% CI, 2.2-24.2), followed by children with HIV (3.5; 95% CI, 1.6-7.5), and infants (3.3; 95% CI, 1.6-6.7). Ultra on induced sputum was feasible, with high yield and diagnostic accuracy for high-risk children.
Juaneta Luiz, Lesley Jean Workman, Cynthia B. Whitman et al.
Recently, Early Childhood Care and Learning has become a central point in the South African education spectrum. Unfortunately, this sector faces challenges, especially in economically challenged societies. Practitioners are not receiving sufficient professional development from relevant government departments, and they also struggle to find teaching and learning resources due to the prevalent socio-economic issues in the societies where their centres are located. This interpretive project, which is premised on Participatory Action Learning and Action Research as a research design, was conceptualised to support early childhood practitioners and parents in creating diverse teaching media, using recyclable materials. Engagements with practitioners after the implementation stage indicate the following: children enjoy manipulating recyclable material, practitioners value recyclable material; practitioners appreciate new pedagogical strategies; activities involving recyclable material improve children’s vocabulary significantly; the activities cement schemata; interaction in literacy classrooms improves critical skills such as critical thinking, effective listening, following instructions, speaking, problem-solving, and communication. The project concludes that literacy instruction using recyclable materials in early childhood learning may sustainably improve literacy.
Introduction/Objective Armed conflicts threaten maternal and neonatal health, yet evidence on neonatal outcomes remains fragmented. This scoping review mapped evidence on armed conflict’s impact on neonatal health and identified pathways influencing outcomes. Methods This scoping review followed Arksey and O’Malley’s framework and PRISMA-ScR guidelines. MEDLINE/PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Global Health (CABI), and CINAHL were searched, supplemented by Google Scholar and reference-list screening. Articles published from 2006 to 2025 reporting neonatal health outcomes (0-28 days) in conflict-affected settings were included. Maternal and pregnancy-related factors were considered when linked to neonatal outcomes. Twenty-nine articles were synthesized thematically. Results Four overarching themes emerged: (1) war-driven neonatal adversity, (2) health system collapse impact, (3) risks associated with alternative and non-formal care practices, and (4) stress-associated biological and epigenetic changes. Armed conflict was associated with increased neonatal mortality, preterm birth, low birth weight, congenital anomalies, and neonatal morbidity. Pathways included violence exposure, healthcare disruption, displacement, food insecurity, environmental hazards, and maternal psychological stress. Discussion Conflict affects neonatal health through interconnected biological, social, environmental, and health system pathways. Health system disruption, reduced access to skilled care, unsafe care practices, and maternal stress may compound adverse outcomes. Emerging evidence of epigenetic changes suggests potential longer-term consequences and underscores the need for integrated humanitarian and health system responses. Conclusion Priorities include strengthening health system resilience, ensuring continuity of maternal-newborn services, and integrating context-appropriate maternal mental health and psychosocial support. Further research should identify feasible, culturally responsive, and scalable interventions in underrepresented and protracted conflict settings.
Childhood illnesses such as anaemia and malaria continue to pose significant health risks for children under five in sub-Saharan Africa. These conditions often co-occur, reflecting complex interdependencies driven by shared biological and environmental factors. Traditional analytical approaches typically assume independence between health outcomes, potentially overlooking meaningful associations. This study aims to identify the dependence structure among anaemia and malaria in children under five using a joint modeling approach. Data were drawn from the most recent Malaria Indicator Survey (MIS), comprising 5,755 children. A bivariate probit model was estimated using a Gaussian copula framework with probit margins for each outcome. This approach allowed for the simultaneous modeling of the marginal probability of each illness and the latent correlations among them. The model incorporated a range of child-, household-, and maternal-level covariates. Average Marginal Effects (AMEs) were calculated to facilitate interpretation. The copula correlation (ρ) between anaemia and malaria from the copula structure was estimated to quantify the dependence between the two illnesses. Descriptive analyses revealed substantial co-occurrence: 13.8% of children experienced both illnesses simultaneously. The joint copula model detected significant positive copula correlations (ρ ≈ 0.19) between anaemia and malaria. Several covariates displayed differential effects in the joint versus separate models. For instance, the association between maternal anaemia and child malaria risk reversed direction once interdependence was accounted for. Joint modeling yielded more stable and plausible estimates across outcomes. This study highlights the critical importance of accounting for outcome dependence in the analysis of child morbidity. The significant correlations among malaria and anaemia suggest that these illnesses are influenced by common or interacting risk factors. Joint modeling using a Gaussian copula framework enhances both the precision of marginal effect estimates and the understanding of comorbidity patterns. These findings support the design of integrated health interventions that address the interconnected nature of childhood illnesses in high-burden settings.
Grace Kakaire, Robert Too, Gregory Kibet Kerich et al.
Abstract Child malnutrition remains a major public health challenge in Indonesia. However, the factors associated with multidimensional child health outcomes (MCHO), defined as the coexistence of anthropometric failure and infectious morbidity, remain poorly understood. Examining these conditions jointly is important because undernutrition and infection are biologically interconnected, frequently coexist, and together impose a greater burden on child health than either condition alone. This study examined maternal and child determinants of MCHO in a cross-sectional analysis nested within an ongoing birth cohort of 142 mother–child pairs (children aged 6–13 months) participating in an ongoing birth cohort in an urban poor setting in Makassar, Indonesia. Nutritional status was assessed using World Health Organization anthropometric indicators, and associations were estimated using Firth penalised-likelihood logistic regression with sensitivity analyses based on modified Poisson regression and E-values. MCHO affected 14.79% of children, while stunting, wasting, underweight, and recent infectious morbidity affected 23.94%, 19.72%, 11.97%, and 30.99%, respectively. Caesarean delivery was independently associated with MCHO, though estimated from a model with a modest events-per-variable ratio (AOR 3.09, 95% CI 1.18–8.10, p = 0.022; adjusted prevalence ratio [aPR] 2.60, 95% CI 1.17–5.77; E-value 5.63). Recent infectious morbidity was independently associated with wasting (AOR 2.57, 95% CI 1.07–6.16, p = 0.034; aPR 2.01, 95% CI 1.03–3.93; E-value 4.58). Unimproved drinking water showed consistent positive associations with MCHO, stunting, and wasting (all p < 0.10). These findings highlight the associations of maternal, infectious, and environmental factors with child health and underscore the need for integrated interventions that address nutrition, infection prevention, maternal and child health, and household environmental conditions simultaneously.
Ryza Jazid BaharuddinNur, Eri Wijaya, Irmayanti Irmayanti et al.
