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International Journal of Child Health and Nutrition

Minimum Acceptable Diet and its Predictors among Children Aged 6-23 Months in Mareka District, Southern Ethiopia: Community Based Cross-Sectional Study  - Pages 202-211

Fentaw Wassie Feleke and Getahun Fentaw Mulaw

https://doi.org/10.6000/1929-4247.2020.09.04.7
Published: 27 November 2020

 


Abstract: Background: Optimal infant and young child feeding practices are essential for normal growth, better health, and mental and physical development. Even though there are a lot of nutrition intervention programs in Ethiopia, still suboptimal feeding practices are prevalent. This study was devised to assess a level of minimum acceptable diet (MAD) and predictors among children aged 6-23 months in Mareka District, south Ethiopia.

Method: A community-based cross-sectional study was employed on 662 study participants from August 15 to September 15/ 2015. They were selected by a multi-stage sampling technique. Data were collected by interviewer-administered semi-structured questionnaires. Statistical significance was declared at p-value <0.05 at multivariable logistic regression.

Result: The study showed that 35.5 % of the children aged 6-23 months met the recommended MAD. Maternal primary and secondary education (AOR: 1.90; 95% CI: 1.15-3.16 and AOR: 2.06, 95% CI: 1.12-3.77), Media exposure (AOR: 2.16; 95% CI: 1.46-3.29), health facility delivery (AOR:2.52; 95% CI: 1.54-4.13), child age of 9-11 and 12-23 months (AOR:2.73; 95% CI: 1.41-5.49 and AOR:2.55; 95% CI: 1.39-4.69) and GMP service utilization (AOR: 4.09; 95% CI: 2.51-6.65) were associated with MAD of children.

Conclusion: The level of MAD among children was low. Maternal educational status, media exposure, institutional delivery, child age, and GMP service utilization were associated with MAD. Increasing utilization of GMP service, health facility delivery, maternal education, and media promotion was recommended to increase the level of MAD.

Keywords:  Minimum Acceptable diet, children, 6-23 months, dietary diversity, Ethiopia.

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International Journal of Child Health and Nutrition

Self-Reported Academic Performance and Lifestyle Habits of School Children in Japan
Pages 90-97
Jun Kohyama

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.6000/1929-4247.2017.06.03.1

Published: 11 September 2017

 


Abstract: Background and Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the lifestyle habits significantly associated with self-reported academic performance (AP) in children in grades 5 to 12 in Japan.

Methods: A total of 2,114 completed questionnaires were analyzed. Factors examined included habits related to sleeping, eating, defecation, physical activity, and screen time, in addition to body mass index (BMI). Social jet lag (SJL) was calculated from sleeping factors and categorized into five groups according to its value: minus 1 or less (SJL 1), more than minus 1 and 0 or less (SJL 2), more than 0 and 1 or less (SJL 3), more than 1 and 2 or less (SJL 4), and more than 2 (SJL 5). The association between self-reported AP and other factors except for SJL was assessed by means of multinomial logistic regression analysis.

Results: Factors significantly associated with good self-reported AP included female gender, lower grade, less sleepiness, lower BMI, intake of breakfast, less constipation, early wake-up time during the weekend, and short screen time during the weekend. The mean self-reported AP of SJL 3 was better than that of both SJL 5 and SJL 1.

Conclusions: Self-reported AP was associated with gender, grade, BMI, sleep, breakfast, defecation, and screen time in children in grades 5 to 12 in Japan. It must be ensured that children take enough time to perform the indispensable human behaviors of sleeping, eating, defecation, and physical activity.

Keywords: Sleep, breakfast, constipation, social jet lag, physical activity, screen time.

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International Journal of Child Health and Nutrition

Prevalence of Hospital Malnutrition at Admission and Outcomes in Pediatric Patients
Pages 98-104
Onwaree Sukhosa and Kulnipa Kittisakmontri

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.6000/1929-4247.2017.06.03.2

Published: 11 September 2017

 


Abstract:  Background: Hospitalized children are at risk of malnutrition and vulnerable for many adverse outcomes.

Objectives: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of hospital malnutrition in pediatric patients admitted at Chiang Mai University (CMU) hospital and evaluate correlation between malnutrition and outcomes including length of hospital stay (LOS), total hospital cost and mortality.

Methods and Study Design: A prospective cohort study was conducted at CMU hospital. Patients aged 1 month to 15 year-old who admitted to general pediatric wards were included. Demographic data, anthropometric assessments including weight, length/height and outcomes were collected. Malnutrition was classified by the WHO growth reference.

Results: A total of 217 patients with mean age 68.8 ± 53.8 month-old were analyzed. Majority of them were male (65.4%) while leading diagnosis were oncologic, infectious and congenital heart diseases. The prevalence of all malnutrition was 59.9%. According to the WHO classification, percentages of the patients who were stunted, wasted, both of stunted and wasted, and overweight were 29.9%, 9.2%, 17.1%, and 3.7%, respectively. Moreover, compared to previous study of this center in 1985, more than half of hospitalized children have still assessed as under-malnourished patients. For the hospital outcomes, wasting regardless of stunting had significantly longer LOS (8 vs 5 days, p = 0.001) and higher hospital expenditure (37,283.0 vs 23,630.0 Baht, p = 0.004) while mortality was not different.

Conclusions: The prevalence of malnutrition in hospitalized children is common and remains unchanged. Acute malnutrition significantly impact on total hospital cost and prolong LOS comparing with other groups.

Keywords: Undernutrition, Malnutrition, Hospitalized children, Hospital outcomes, Hospital cost.

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International Journal of Child Health and Nutrition

Blood Microsampling for Complete Blood Count: Take Heed of Preanalytical Errors
Pages 105-109
Barbara Kościelniak, Andrzej Zając and Przemysław Tomasik

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.6000/1929-4247.2017.06.03.3

Published: 11 September 2017

 


Abstract: Background: The credibility of the result of a complete blood count is closely connected with the preanalytical phase.

Objectives: This study evaluated accordance of filling of microtubes with manufacturer’s recommendation and assessed the effect of storage of overfilled and underfilled samples on the results of complete blood count.

Design and Methods: Volume of blood samples collected into microtubes in the wards of the University Children's Hospital in Cracow during one month was analyzed. In the stability studies, overfilled and underfilled samples stored at ambient temperature were analyzed at 1, 2, 3 and 12 hours after phlebotomy. The analysis was made using the SYSMEX XT-1800i analyzer.

Results: More than half of the analyzed samples were incorrectly filled. 63% of the samples were filled above the manufacturer's recommended volume and 15% of test-tubes were filled below the recommendation. We observed differences between collected blood volume in accordance to the age of patients (p=0.001). The storage of overfilled and underfilled microtubes for complete blood count for 1,2,3 and 12 h at room temperature had no effect on the results of this test.

Conclusion: Medical staff does not follow the instructions of the manufacturers. It might lead to a decrease of the quality and credibility of the results.

Keywords: Phlebotomy, preanalytical error, nurse training, children.

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