This article delineates the discursive trajectory of Chinese children’s literature and explicates its specific storytelling strategies to integrate nation and narration, tradition and modernity, nationalism and internationalism. At the intersection of nation building, storytelling and comparative literature, it is argued that Chinese children’s literature, developed from a comparative perspective and as an alternative vision of Paul Hazard’s “universal republic of childhood,” not only manifests paradoxical literary features, given the asymmetry of global literary distribution and power relations, but also converges with and enriches world children’s literature in China’s ongoing process of raising its cultural soft power. The paradox inherent in globalising Chinese children’s literature leads to the reconceptualisation of translation and cross-cultural readability of genres as essential to a richer construct of national images on the world literary map.
Abstract Background The COVID-19 pandemic triggered numerous challenges for the healthcare systems worldwide, particularly affecting the continuity of essential health services in low- and middle-income countries. We explored the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the utilization and delivery of essential health services in Armenia. Methods We applied a conventional qualitative study design using semi-structured in-depth interviews (n = 17) in public and private primary healthcare (PHC) facilities in Armenia (2021). Participants included physicians providing primary health services (e.g. endocrinologists, gynecologists/obstetricians, and pediatricians), regular PHC facility patients (e.g. adults with chronic diseases, parents of children), and policymakers. Iterative thematic analysis was done based on inductively emerged 3 main themes: patient-provider communications, maternal and child health services, and management of chronic diseases. Results Overall, visits to the PHC facilities were decreased due to fear to contract COVID-19 coupled with lack of information, misinformation and panic. There was a lack of digital platforms for ensuring continuous patient-provider communication and phone calls were the main way of communication. PHC providers intentionally limited the number of maternal and child visits to only essential antenatal visits, newborn screenings and routine child immunizations. Still, the latter has suffered resulting in delayed and decreased vaccinations. The pandemic remarkably decreased the number of follow-up visits and monitoring of patients with chronic conditions resulting in more critical and severe conditions. Conclusions The COVID-19 pandemic affected the provision and utilization of essential health services at PHC facilities by changing people’s health-seeking behavior. Unified national-level guidance for PHC facilities is needed to direct the provision of essential services, effective health communication and usage of digital platforms. Key messages • Though provider encounters should be limited during outbreaks, continuous provision of essential services is critical in the prevention of morbidity, complications and worsened disease severity. • Efforts are needed to develop effective health and risk communication strategies and enhance appropriate usage of digital platforms to promote adequate health-seeking behavior among the public.
Abstract Background Health information management systems (HIMS) are used by most countries to record data on the coverage of reproductive, maternal, newborn and child health services (RMNCH). The HIMS in India manually collects data from primary health care facilities. Low and middle income countries (LMIC) are shifting to technological applications (apps) to improve reporting and real time tracking of RMNCH services. This study found high disparity of data between different sources. Yet governments and other stakeholders continue to use poorly reported data for daily monitoring, review and decision making. This study shares insight on the high degree of data variation, and proposes process and policy changes to improve it. Methods To quantify the extent of data variation, critical RMNCH indicators from apps and HIMS are compared for a given geography and time period. Workshops with the primary health workers and their supervisors were conducted to understand the challenges in reporting, based on which solutions to improve the efficiency of apps are proposed. Results Preliminary analysis in the state of Madhya Pradesh shows, in the year 2020-2021 live births, neonatal deaths and Infant deaths were 93%, 91% and 71% less respectively on apps as compared to HIMS. Major challenges of reporting on technological applications by primary health workers low internet penetration at 31% in Madhya Pradesh Lack of mechanisms to ensure user friendly and glitch-free apps Poor capacity to understand public health indicators and application generated reports Conclusions Online data quality must be governed by policies that focus on implementing mechanisms to analyze and validate data from different sources and remove blockages to quality reporting. Online public health reports need to be demystified by building capacities of primary health workers and their supervisors to use data to reflect on their performance and plan for improvement. Key messages Poor online data will impact real time action to ensure coverage and accountability for low performance. Investing in user friendly efficient technology for RMNCH services with strong quality control mechanisms, is the priority for good decision making.
Abstract: Background: War is a stressful factor for children and families. During war, there are two categories of children including those who are directly attacked and all of their amenities such as school, house, and social structure are influenced and destroyed. Another category includes children who are indirectly observing these disasters through social media and the first group, in addition to psychological aspects, suffers from nutritional and physical health problems. In this study, the researcher aims to find out if there is any solution to provide psychological safety and nutritional and physical health for children involved in war. Methods: In this study, articles published in English and Persian languages in scientific sites, journals and conferences of Medical Sciences of Iran and Red Crescent, SID, PubMed and Scopus, and humanities were searched by keywords such as psychological health safety, violence against children, vulnerability of children during war, nutritional and physical health of children, and solutions to provide supplies and health during war. Results: The results show that during war, it is necessary to gather information from the study area exposed to danger. Costs estimation, maintenance and storage of food supplies, supplying kitchens, warehouses and mobile refrigerators, providing food and shelter, establishment of hospitals and schools, education to cope with crisis for families and people working with children, and separating the consumer groups to maintain nutritional health of children are necessary. But the most important element is psychological health of children and it is necessary to train people before the accident and send them to the area. These people should know that children are more sensitive and understand the situations. Conclusions: To solve psychological problems of children, parents and authorities should prepare a comprehensive plan to reduce psychological injuries. For children who may need tranquilizers for psychological disorders, the presence of psychologist and psychiatrist is necessary. For health and nutrition of children, correct planning and prediction and management can reduce losses caused by the crisis. Keywords: Children, War, Psychological problems, Food supply, Health
Salehifardjoneghani A, Heydarisoreshjani S, Saljoghipeptani A et al.
Abstract Objectives Pesticides are an often-overlooked dietary exposure, especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Evidence from high-income settings indicates that pesticide exposure during pregnancy can adversely affect early childhood development (ECD). However, evidence from LMICs is limited. Our objective was to quantify the associations between prenatal pesticide exposure and ECD in rural Bangladesh. Methods We used data from 284 mother-child pairs participating in a birth cohort established in 2008. Eight pesticide biomarkers were assessed in urine collected in early pregnancy (<16 weeks' gestation). Urinary pesticide biomarkers capture all exposure routes. In our sample, 0% of women and 23% of their husbands were employed in agriculture, and indoor residual spraying is rare in this part of Bangladesh. Thus, we hypothesised that the primary pesticide exposure route was dietary intake. ECD was assessed at 20–40 months of age using the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, Third Edition. Associations between creatinine-adjusted pesticide levels and child development raw scores were estimated using multivariable generalised linear models. Results 3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridinol (TCPY) and 4-nitrophenol, metabolites of frequently used organophosphates, were detected in 98% and 100% of women, respectively. The metabolites 3-phenoxybenzoic acid (3-PBA, a pyrethroid metabolite) and 2-isopropyl-4-methyl-6-hydroxypyrimidine (IMPY, an organophosphate metabolite) were detected in 19.8% and 16.1% of women, respectively. Higher IMPY concentrations were associated with lower language (−0.67 points [95% CI −1.31, −0.04]) and motor development (−0.40 points [95% CI −0.71, −0.09]). Higher TCPY concentrations were associated with lower cognitive development, though the association was small: −0.01 points (95% CI −0.02, 0.00). We observed no associations between 4-nitrophenol and 3-PBA and child development. Conclusions Exposure to organophosphates, which are acetylcholinesterase inhibitors, in early pregnancy may adversely affect ECD. Interventions to reduce children's pesticide exposure in LMICs are needed. Funding Sources Funding was provided by UK Research and Innovation, (removed to allow blinded review), and the National Institutes of Health (NIEHS).
Abstract Objectives Food and nutrition during childhood plays a crucial role for child's growth and development. In Thailand, community child care center established by a Local Authority Organization provides early childhood education and growth development support to a rural child. This research aims to develop a nutritious menu for lunch meal served in the community child care centers. Methods This research used a Participatory Action Research (PAR) for engaging the community child care centers to achieve nutritious menu plan and vegetable intake promotion for preschoolers in Ubon Ratchathani. There were 105 participants joined the research. The intervention includes increasing nutrition knowledge of the cookers, teachers, and parents of children. The development of 1-moth menu planning by the collaboration group participants was conducted. The statistical analysis involved frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, and Paired t–test. The selected nutritive value of developed menu was analyzed by Inmucal program Version 3.0. Results The participants agreed to use the developed menu-cycle to serve children in all centers with approval from the local government organization. There were significantly increasing of diet and nutrition knowledge scores of the participants (from 11.56 to 12.61). After the intervention, it was found that creating policy guidelines set by the local administrative can lead to improvement of nutritive value of the developed menu. Conclusions The community child care center is suitable for promoting nutrition of preschool children in rural area. This research used the participatory action research to involve of cookers, teachers, and parents in designing nutritious menu cycle served in the child care center. This strategy may helpful for child care providers to ensure quality lunch meal for preschool children. Funding Sources Ubon Ratchathani Rajabhat University (UBRU), Thailand.
Introduction The VML (Verbal Motor Learning) method (Vashdi, 2013, Vashdi, 2014, 2017) is an organized, structured method which includes unique evaluation, algorithmic analysis, manual techniques, motor learning principles and unique treatment principles. The VML method targets the Apraxia of speech syndrome deficits, while teaching the learner how the plan the speech movements and time the speech systems for an accurate pronunciation. Being a multidimensional entity in nature, as a speech therapy tool developed by a physical therapist, the VML method crosses disciplinary boundaries of agreement and proposing new policies for treatment. The speech tool serves other professions then speech therapists and is also given to parents for practice and learning. The parent’s role in the therapeutic team is controversial, however, we have found that parent’s intervention in some cases can be very effective, contributing to treatment process. Objectives The purpose of this retrospective study is to answer two major questions; What is the efficacy of the professional and non-professional VML treatment. Methods A retrospective study was conducted analyzing 900 evaluations of which 136 longitudinal treatment processes of children diagnosed with CAS or suspected CAS, were extracted. The participants contacted the early age intervention clinic for VML speech evaluation on their own will, and were examined by a VML expert. The data was collected over the years 2006-2018 based on children evaluated at the clinic in Israel. A set of variables based on the VML method assessment (Vashdi, 2013; Vashdi, 2014) was established for the retrospective data collection 136 speech treatment processes passed the inclusion criteria and were examined (59 professional treatment and 77 non-professional treatment Results There were no differences between the professional and non-professional group’s baseline data. The entry syllables score for all participants was 16.32%. The average improvement in syllables for all participants was significant (33.18% , p<0.05, paired t-test). It was also found significant for the professional and non-professional treatment groups ( 45.49% and 23.75% respectively, p<0.001, t-test). Single syllables improvement was found higher for professional group (P=0.02). Conclusions Both groups demonstrated significant improvement in the single syllables production skill, while the professional group was found significantly more effective than the home-based treatment. The findings regarding the professional group are not surprising, however support the efficacy of the VML intervention for children with severe CAS, even with one session per week of intervention. The non-professional home based treatment results were surprising and promosing for future practice. Disclosure of Interest None Declared
Introduction In recent years, new concepts have been proposed to discriminate between healthy (adaptive) and unhealthy (nonadaptive) self-esteem. Among them, Yamasaki et al. (2017) proposed the concepts of “autonomous” and “heteronomous” self-esteem. As they underscored that autonomous self-esteem needs to be nonconsciously assessed, several nonconscious assessment methods have been developed using implicit association tests (IATs). However, any IAT has not been developed for younger children, even though it is necessary to measure autonomous self-esteem in early childhood because it is largely formed in early developmental stages. Objectives The aim was to develop an IAT to measure autonomous and heteronomous self-esteem for 1st-grade elementary school children. In order to standardize it, the validity and reliability were examined. Methods Participants were 1st-grade children in a public elementary school in Japan. The final sample included 55 children (35 boys and 20 girls). Their two home-room teachers participated to evaluate the children. The IAT was administered twice, around four weeks apart. The original paper-and-pencil version of the IAT was developed based on the IAT by Yokoshima et al. (2021). In this test, the implicit association between two kinds of stimuli, category (e.g., “myself”) and attribute (face pictograms expressing high and low self-esteem), is measured in terms of accuracy and speed. The evaluation by teachers was conducted using 7-point Likert scales (“not true at all” to “very true”). The evaluation items were “this child proactively does what he or she wants to do alone or with friends for autonomous self-esteem and “this child is competitive and concerned with the consequences of other children” for heteronomous self-esteem. Results The test-retest reliability was calculated using correlational analyses of the two measurements. The correlation was significantly positive, r = .70, p < .01. To examine the validity, the children were divided into high and low groups based on the cut-off scores (over 1 SD above the mean and under 1 SD below the mean). Statistical analyses showed that the evaluated scores were significantly higher in Group High than in Group Low regarding the characteristic of autonomous self-esteem, t (19) = 3.87, p < .01, d = 1.62, and that they were significantly higher in Group High than in Group Low for the characteristic of heteronomous self-esteem, t (19) = 3.14, p < .01, d = 1.32. Conclusions This study showed that the newly developed IAT for lower-grade children includes high reliability and validity. Hereafter, this test can be utilized at schools to assess autonomous and heteronomous self-esteem. As schools are interested in enhancing healthy and adaptive self-esteem, this tool will be an effective assessment method to ascertain how autonomous self-esteem is cultivated. Disclosure of Interest None Declared
Abstract Background To know the baseline coverage and potential obstacles for children vaccination before starting a health awareness program. Methods A cross sectional study on immunization coverage in the slum area of Multan, Pakistan was conducted and a total of 312 mothers were interviewed face to face for Knowledge, Attitudes, and Perceptions (KAP). Results Among the children less than 3 years, 33 % fully, 46 % partially and 21 % were not at all immunized. High levels of BCG and OPV zero rates (79%) and low rates of OPV3/DPT3 (48%) and measles (41%) vaccines were found. Majority of the mothers were satisfied with the program. Most of the mothers were aware about the importance of vaccination but were ignorant for the need to complete the schedule. There were many misconceptions and beliefs among the mothers of partial and unimmunized children. The majority were of view that vaccines contain ingredients that will make the children infertile. Conclusion There is a need to enhance the maternal knowledge about the vaccine preventable diseases and importance of completing the immunization schedule. Also the misconception about the vaccines need be specifically addressed. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures
Tackling childhood overweight and obesity is critical not only to improve the health and well-being of children and adolescents, but also for entire populations and future generations. This paper provides the latest evidence on the extent of, and risk factors for, childhood overweight and obesity in Vietnam. The landscape analysis tool developed by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and World Health Organization (WHO) was used. A search for peer-reviewed articles in English on online databases was undertaken. Peer-reviewed Vietnamese articles were also retrieved from a range of sources. The prevalence of overweight among children aged under 5 years increased from 5.6% in 2010 to 7.4% in 2019. For overweight and obesity among children aged 5 to 19 years, prevalence rose from 8.5% and 2.5% in 2010 to 19% and 8.1% in 2020, respectively. Maternal malnutrition, gestational diabetes during pregnancy, and inadequate infant and young child feeding practices are all risk factors for early childhood overweight. Unhealthy diets, insufficient physical activity, and lack of sleep are among the risk factors for overweight and obesity among school aged children and adolescents. The prevention of overweight and obesity among Vietnamese children requires a whole-of-government, cross-sectoral approach to addresses the obesogenic environment that is negatively influencing the nutrition of children.
