Africa Knowledge Hub for Children

Peer-reviewed articleEurope PMC7 Nov 2025

Long-term impact of nirsevimab on prevention of respiratory syncytial virus infection using a real-world global database.

Objective The preventive effect of nirsevimab, a long-acting monoclonal antibody, on infants with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection beyond six months has rarely been evaluated. The objective of this study was to evaluate the preventive effects of nirsevimab beyond 6 months after RSV infection using a global database. Methods This was a multi-centre retrospective study using a global database (TriNetX). The participants were children under 24 months of age who required nucleic acid testing for RSV between July 2023 and June 2025. Children who received the last dose of nirsevimab within 6 months, between 6 and 11 months, and beyond 12 months were compared with those who did not receive any nirsevimab dose by epidemic season after propensity score matching. Results A total of 4627, 861, and 532 children aged <24 months who received nirsevimab within 6 months, between 6 and 11 months, and beyond 12 months before RSV testing, respectively, and 210,626 children who did not receive any nirsevimab were identified. Compared with those who did not receive nirsevimab, the odds ratios (OR) of a positive RSV test result among those who received nirsevimab within 6 months, between 6 and 11 months, and beyond 12 months before testing were 0.49 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.42, 0.57] (p<0.001), 0.67 [0.48, 0.94] (p<0.020), and 1.21 [0.89, 1.65] (p=0.234) in the last epidemic season, respectively. Conclusion This study indicated that the preventive effect of nirsevimab against RSV infection was maintained for up to 12 months following administration, whereas a preventive effect beyond 12 months was not observed. The results of this study need to be interpreted with caution owing to some important limitations.

Kitano T, Tsuzuki S, Fukuda H et al.

Peer-reviewed articlePubMed Central (PMC)21 Feb 2022

4104 Development and validation of parental empathy analog tasks

OBJECTIVES/GOALS: Parents’ empathy toward their children affects their parenting, which can in turn impact child outcomes. Although parental empathy is theoretically distinct from trait empathy, current literature relies on largely self-report measures of parents’ trait empathy. Thus, the current study evaluated new analog assessments of parental empathy. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: One parental empathy analog measure (Empathy Measure for Parents Analog Task, Emotion Script; EMPAT-ES) was created based on parents’ responses to open ended prompts describing scenarios that elicit different emotions (e.g., happy, mad, sad, scared) in children. These responses were used to create short scripts. A second analog task (EMPAT, Emotion Audio) was created using 20 sec audio clips of children expressing the different emotions wherein participants respond with how they feel hearing the emotions and separately, how they believe the child feels. After an initial pilot, both versions of the EMPAT-E were administered to 120 families enrolled in a prospective longitudinal study. Parents completed self-report measures of trait empathy and parental empathy, as well as the EMPAT-ES and EMPAT-EA analog tasks. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: Internal consistency of both the EMPAT-ES and EMPAT-EA tasks are expected to be robust, demonstrating the reliability of these novel assessments of parental empathy. Results are also expected to demonstrate the construct and convergent validity of both analog tasks. These new measures of parental empathy are expected to be significantly associated with measures of trait empathy. Specifically, parents’ responses indicating how they believe the child feels in the analog are expected to be strongly related to their reported emotion recognition abilities and responses indicating how analog items made parents feel are expected to be related to parents’ empathic concern. Finally, parents’ responses to the analog tasks are anticipated to be strongly associated with parents’ self-reported parental empathy. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE OF IMPACT: Valid, novel assessments of parental empathy can impact the parenting literature as well as community intervention and prevention efforts with parents. Such analog tasks can bolster parenting research but they may also be translated to the community setting as a training tool wherein parents are taught new skills that promote more positive parenting.

Gonzalez S, Rodriguez C

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Peer-reviewed articleEurope PMC27 Aug 2026

Abdominopelvic hydatid disease during pregnancy: a systematic review of the literature.

Objective To review the available literature on abdominopelvic cystic echinococcosis (CE) during pregnancy, focusing on clinical presentation, diagnostic approaches, management strategies, and maternal and foetal outcomes. Methods A systematic review was conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. Studies reporting abdominopelvic hydatid disease in pregnant women were included without restrictions on study design or geography. Results Fifty-one studies (45 case reports and 6 case series) including 79 patients were analysed. The mean maternal age was 28 years (range 15-42). Most patients with reported clinical-presentation data were symptomatic (56/67, 83.6%), commonly presenting with right upper quadrant or nonspecific abdominal pain. Ultrasound was the primary diagnostic modality (50/52, 96.1%), while MRI was used in selected cases. The liver was the most frequently involved site (50/72, 69.4%), followed by pelvic and adnexal locations. Surgical intervention was performed in 38.5% of cases, conservative management in 30.8%, and cyst aspiration in 14.1%. Surgery was often timed during caesarean section or the second trimester. Benzimidazole therapy was administered to 31 patients, most commonly during pregnancy. Caesarean delivery occurred in 43.3% and vaginal delivery in 34.3% of cases. Adverse pregnancy outcomes included miscarriage (4.5%), termination of pregnancy (3.0%), one maternal death (1.5%), and one neonatal death (1.5%). Among the 36 pregnancies with reported gestational age at delivery, 13 (36.1%) resulted in preterm birth. Conclusion Abdominopelvic CE during pregnancy is rare and clinically challenging, with substantial heterogeneity in presentation and management across the published literature. Given the limited available evidence, management should be individualised within a multidisciplinary team, while prospective international registries are needed to strengthen the evidence base.

Chinis E, Tzanakis K, Lockett G et al.

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Peer-reviewed articleEurope PMC14 Apr 2026

Caesarean section may be associated with suspected motor developmental delay at 3 years of age in the Japan Environment and Children's Study.

The number of births by caesarean section (CS) is increasing worldwide. In line with this trend, there is growing interest in the neurodevelopmental outcome of children born by CS. This study examined the relationship between the mode of delivery and suspected neurodevelopmental delay in young children. A total of 53,716 mother-child pairs participating in the Japan Environment and Children's Study, a representative Japanese cohort study of children, were included in the analysis of the association between CS and suspected developmental delay, as assessed by the Ages and Stages Questionnaires, Third Edition, in 3-year-old children. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to calculate adjusted odds ratios (aORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). No significant overall relationship was found between mode of delivery and suspected developmental delay. In an analysis by sex, CS was associated with increased risk of suspected gross motor developmental delay (aOR 1.27, 95% CI 1.07-1.49) in boys and increased risk of suspected fine motor developmental delay (aOR 1.34, 95% CI 1.11-1.63) in girls. These results suggest that there may be a relationship between CS and suspected motor developmental delay at the age of 3 years.

Sanzen I, Matsumura K, Inano H et al.

SurvivalDevelopmentExperimentalJPRead at source

Peer-reviewed articleEurope PMC14 Nov 2025

Child maltreatment and social welfare service involvement is linked to higher rates of criminal cautions and convictions by early adulthood.

Background Child maltreatment is a major public health issue. Child welfare services are provided to many children at risk of maltreatment to try and prevent negative outcomes and serious long-term harm. The excess risk of criminal justice contact among children receiving these welfare services is not well established and less is known about differences between male and female children, making effective health policy responses difficult. Methods The study analyses linked whole-population administrative data from the Department for Education and Ministry of Justice in England N = 1,708,565 for children born between 1995 and 1998. Multilevel logistic regression models for the whole population, and male and female subgroups, predict the odds of receiving any criminal caution or conviction by 2020 across all levels of child welfare service involvement, while accounting for other covariates. Findings Children referred to or receiving any intervention from child welfare services have increased odds of contact with the criminal justice system, OR 1.86 [1.83, 1.93] to OR 4.21 [4.08, 4.33]. With higher odds for girls at all levels of social welfare involvement OR 2.15-5.69, compared to boys OR 1.75-3.52. Conclusions Risk of criminal justice involvement is increased for those referred to or receiving a child welfare service intervention. While this reflects the higher levels of need identified by child welfare services, it also indicates that engagement of child welfare services does not protect young people from criminalisation. Strategies are needed to address the consequences for these young peoples' health.

Leyland A, Webb CJR, Hughes N et al.

ProtectionDevelopmentPractitionerGBRead at source

Peer-reviewed articleEurope PMC1 Feb 2026

Effects of Lateral Positions in Second-Stage Labour on Maternal and Neonatal Outcomes: An Observational Study Using Propensity Score Matching Analysis.

Aim This study aims to examine the effects of lateral positions during the second stage of labour on maternal and neonatal outcomes. Design A prospective observational study was conducted in three Chinese hospitals from June to November 2020. Methods Eligible women were divided into groups based on their use of lithotomy or lateral positions during the second stage of labour. Propensity score matching (PSM) was employed to assess the effects of lateral positions on maternal outcomes (perineal tears, episiotomy use, postpartum blood loss, duration of the second stage of labour, and mode of birth) and neonatal outcomes (Apgar scores at one and 5 min postpartum). Results After PSM matching, lateral positions were associated with a 21% reduced risk of episiotomy use among primiparous women. Primiparous women adopting lateral positions also had significantly reduced risks of moderate perineal tears. There were no significant differences in the duration of the second stage of labour, mode of birth or rates of blood loss over 500 mL at 2 h postpartum. However, lateral positions increased the duration of the second stage of labour by 10 min among primiparous women who adopted lateral positions in this study, and both primiparous and parous women using lateral positions had greater postpartum blood loss. Cases of Apgar scores less than seven and severe perineal tears were rare. Conclusion This prospective observational study indicates that lateral positions during the second stage of labour may offer protective benefits for the perineum among primiparous women. However, their use requires careful clinical judgement, as they may not be suitable for primiparous women experiencing slower labour progress, and additional attention should be given for monitoring postpartum blood loss, regardless of parity.

Huang J, Lu H, Wang J et al.

CNRead at source

Peer-reviewed articleEurope PMC15 Dec 2025

Impact of midwife-led antenatal care on childbirth outcomes and maternal satisfaction among low-risk mothers in India.

Our understanding of midwife-led antenatal care by demonstrates its positive impact on maternal satisfaction and favorable birth outcomes in low-risk women essential. Therefore, it is of interest to evaluate the impact of midwife-led antenatal care for low-risk women at a tertiary hospital. The objectives were to assess maternal and neonatal outcomes and explore how midwife-focused education influences maternal satisfaction. The study involved 150 low-risk primiparous women, using structured questionnaires and clinical records. Results showed high rates of spontaneous vaginal birth (71.33%) and positive maternal satisfaction, with 78% of mothers reporting no distress during labor. Thus, we show the need for evaluating the effectiveness of midwife-led antenatal care in improving maternal and neonatal outcomes for low-risk women at a tertiary hospital.

Ramasamy R, Christopher L, Rajendran SS et al.

SurvivalDevelopmentPractitionerINRead at source

Peer-reviewed articleEurope PMC1 Feb 2026

Comparison of physical activity and sedentary time measured with the ActiGraph GT3X-BT and Actical accelerometers.

Background Accurate and ongoing assessments of physical activity (PA) and sedentary time (SED) are needed to support public health surveillance, evaluate interventions, and advance the understanding of how movement behaviours relate to health. After six cycles of data collection (2007 to 2019) using the Actical (AC) accelerometer, the Canadian Health Measures Survey (CHMS) transitioned to the ActiGraph wGT3X-BT (AG). To understand how estimates from the AC accelerometer may compare with those from the AG in the context of the CHMS, this study compares AC and AG accelerometer estimates of PA, step counts, and SED using CHMS protocols. Methods A convenience sample of 47 adults (aged 18 to 79 years) and 36 children and youth (aged 3 to 17 years) wore both AC and AG accelerometers on their waist for seven consecutive days. Estimates of PA and SED, step counts, and the percentage of those meeting PA recommendations were compared between the devices using descriptive, correlation, and agreement statistics. Results Agreement ranged from poor to excellent, with variability across PA intensities and age groups. Significant absolute differences in SED and light PA (LPA) were observed across all age groups, and in step counts among children and youth. Agreement was good to excellent across most age groups for moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA), and among adults for step counts. While the percentage of those meeting PA recommendations was higher with the AG, results were not statistically different. Similar comparisons could be made with the AG device when using the normal and low frequency extension filters. Interpretation The results of the present study provide data users and researchers with an indication of the expected differences between the devices across various movement behaviour outcomes in the context of the CHMS. Results suggest that comparisons between cycles 1 to 6 and Cycle 7 onward of the CHMS for MVPA are acceptable, but they should be carried out with caution. Comparisons of SED, LPA, vigorous PA, and step counts are not recommended.

Clark J, Gribbon A, St-Laurent M et al.

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Peer-reviewed articleEurope PMC1 Apr 2025

Child domestic labour in Pakistan: a narrative review.

Child domestic workers are children who are hired to work in households by the owners for household chores. In 1996, up to 8.3% of all child labour cases in Pakistan involved domestic chores. Poverty is one of the most common and significant factors for child domestic labour in Pakistan. Studies have shown that if the parents are uneducated or do not value education, there is a high likelihood of children being involved in child domestic labour. Girls make up a large portion of child domestic workers compared to boys, and are more affected by child domestic labour. The victims of child domestic labour have to bear physical, mental and sometimes sexual abuse from the employers. Given these conditions, child domestic labour can be considered a form of modern-day slavery, with victims being children who may not be aware of their rights.

Abdul Ghaffar RS, Enam K

SurvivalProtectionDevelopmentPKRead at source

Peer-reviewed articleEurope PMC1 Sept 2025

Long-lasting effects of pregnancy and childbirth on physical activity in early school-age children.

Recent data indicate that only one-third of adults and children achieve the recommended level of physical activity. Early childhood is the time when health habits are formed, and physical activity is crucial for children’s development. Their low levels of physical activity are a global problem. Therefore, it is important to study the influence of factors affecting children’s physical activity. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between prenatal and perinatal factors—including maternal age, chronic diseases during pregnancy, smoking, physical activity during pregnancy, delivery complications, and the route and duration of delivery—and the physical activity levels of children aged 7–10 years. The study was conducted as a cross-sectional observational study with 207 mothers of children who completed a questionnaire on the course of pregnancy and delivery and the PAQ-A Physical Activity Questionnaire for Adolescents, assessing their children’s physical activity levels. Statistical analysis showed a higher level of activity among children whose mothers had no chronic diseases, were active during pregnancy and gave birth vaginally. No statistically significant differences were found between children’s activity levels and sociodemographical data, birth mass or complications of the neonatal period. The results indicate that children’s health habits are strongly related to mothers’ physical activity during pregnancy and their health status. The findings can be used to develop intervention strategies to promote physical activity among pregnant women and their children, thus, improving their future health.

Szablewska AW, Wencel S, Santos-Rocha R et al.

DevelopmentPractitionerRead at source

Every report we find, newest first.

How to use the reports

Long-term impact of nirsevimab on prevention of respiratory syncytial virus infection using a real-world global database.

4104 Development and validation of parental empathy analog tasks

Abdominopelvic hydatid disease during pregnancy: a systematic review of the literature.

Caesarean section may be associated with suspected motor developmental delay at 3 years of age in the Japan Environment and Children's Study.

Child maltreatment and social welfare service involvement is linked to higher rates of criminal cautions and convictions by early adulthood.

Effects of Lateral Positions in Second-Stage Labour on Maternal and Neonatal Outcomes: An Observational Study Using Propensity Score Matching Analysis.

Impact of midwife-led antenatal care on childbirth outcomes and maternal satisfaction among low-risk mothers in India.

Comparison of physical activity and sedentary time measured with the ActiGraph GT3X-BT and Actical accelerometers.

Child domestic labour in Pakistan: a narrative review.

Long-lasting effects of pregnancy and childbirth on physical activity in early school-age children.

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