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Mental health and wellbeing are increasingly threatened in the current post-pandemic times, with stress, especially in students, reaching preoccupying levels. In addition, while many educational programs are unidimensional (i.e., lacking integration between physical, emotional and cognitive elements), there are ways to promote physical, social and mental health in children and adolescents. In this opinion paper, we will discuss the importance of an integrative approach for health development and examine relevant factors, such as awareness and emotional intelligence. We will highlight evidence ranging from behavioral to electrophysiological, structural and molecular, and report several recent studies supporting the effectiveness of a holistic approach in supporting wellbeing and creativity in children and adults, and detailing a specific paradigm named the Quadrato Motor Training (QMT). QMT is a specifically structured movement meditation, involving cognitive, motor and affective components. Finally, we will support a holistic view on education, integrating motion, emotion and cognition to develop a person-centered, or in this case student-centered, approach to wellbeing and health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Early childhood development (ECD) refers to the physical, motor, socio-emotional, cognitive, and linguistic development of a young child. The 'Countdown to 2030' global distribution of 'children at risk of poor development' indicates the need for urgent action and investment in ECD. Nurturing care enhances ECD, even in the presence of adversities. Strategic actions should exist at multiple levels: the family, community, health care providers and government. Previously, child health related policies and programs of the Government of India functioned in isolation, but have recently started demonstrating multi-sectoral collaboration. Nonetheless, the status of ECD in India is far from optimal. There is strong evidence that parenting programs improve outcomes related to ECD. This is dependent on key programmatic areas (timing, duration, frequency, intensity, modality, content, etc.), in addition to political will, funding, partnership, and plans for scaling up. Each country must implement its unique ECD program that is need-based and customized to their stakeholder community. Barriers like inadequate sensitization of the community and low competency of health care providers need to be overcome. IAP firmly believes that responsive parenting interventions revolving around nurturing care should be incorporated in office practice. This paper outlines IAP's position on ECD, and its recommendations for pediatricians and policy makers. It also presents the roadmap in partnership with other stakeholders in maternal, neonatal, and child health; Federation of Obstetric and Gynaecological Societies of India (FOGSI), National Neonatology Forum (NNF), World Health Organization (WHO), and United Nation Children Fund (UNICEF) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims: Journal impact factor has historically been taken as a proxy for quality. However, this is open to significant manipulation and bias. There is currently not widely adopted, robust journal and paper ranking metric which is focused solely on risk of bias. Methods: Risk of bias data was extracted from all Cochrane database systematic reviews in Child Health, Lungs, and Airways for the years 2017–2019. A novel paper quality score, the Clinical Research Bias Index (CRBI), was applied. Individual paper data were pooled for each journal. A comparison was made to journal impact factors, individual paper citations, reads, and altmetric scores. Results: 927 papers were analyzed for risk of bias. 119 (12·8%) scored a CRBI of 100%, with a mean score of 70%. A journal's overall CRBI risk of bias score was poorly correlated with impact factor (r 0.25). Citations (r 0.02), and reads (r 0.01) of individual papers showed very little association with the paper's risk of bias. Likewise, reads were not correlated with citations (r 0.03). H‐index and Altmetric scores were similarly poorly correlated with CRBI. Conclusion: The novel research quality tool CRBI demonstrates the poor correlation between journal impact factor, citations, and risk of bias. Journal and paper ranking metrics should ensure that they are fit for purpose, and enable the dissemination of high‐quality research for the benefit of patients. We propose the CRBI as a potential solution which is resistant to manipulation and will reward the creation and publication of bias‐free research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) is arguably the most ubiquitous and hazardous, even at very low levels, starting in early life. The objective of this study was to describe the state of research and future trends on ETS exposure and Children's Health (CH) topics with bibliometrics and altmetrics. Methods: An electronic search was performed in Scopus database on January 31, 2023. Consensus was arrived on 100 most-cited articles by two reviewers. These papers were then cross matched with citations harvested from Web of Science (WoS) and Google Scholar. Altmetric Attention Score (AAS) and Dimension counts were also collected. Analysis and network visualization of authors, countries, and keywords were generated using VOSviewer software. Results: Among a total of 1107 articles published on ETS and CH, the 100 top-cited articles appeared in 54 journals, with Pediatrics (n = 12) contributing a maximum number of articles. The time period between 2000 and 2009 accounted for 44% of all publications. With respect to the research design employed across these studies, cross-sectional design took precedence over others accounting for approximately 40%. Predominantly, articles focused on childhood asthma; however, current research trends have shifted towards emerging fields such as children's oral health and DNA methylation. Twitter, policy documents, and news outlets were the main platforms where outputs were discussed. The AAS was not associated with journal impact factor or access type. Weak correlations were observed between AAS and citation count in Scopus, WoS, and Google Scholar (r = 0.17 to 0.27) while a positive association existed between dimension count and the number of citations across all three databases (r = 0.84 to 0.98). Conclusion: This study demonstrates the evolution, digital dissemination and research hotspots in the field of ETS and CH, predicting the possible future research directions. High-quality studies with more specific exposure classification are warranted to better understand the relationship between ETS and CH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article, published in the Journal of Human Resources, examines the economics of child mental health, with a particular focus on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. It emphasizes the increasing recognition of mental health issues in children and their influence on educational and labor market outcomes. The article explores the effectiveness of individual medical treatments for child mental health problems and raises questions about the causes of these issues, intergenerational correlations, the role of schools, and potential interventions. Several research papers are discussed, covering topics such as the intergenerational correlation of mental health problems, the effects of domestic violence, the impact of the pandemic on ADHD diagnoses, school-based mental health services, and interventions in developing countries. These studies contribute to our understanding of child mental health economics and highlight the need for further research and interventions in this field. [Extracted from the article]

Programs involving animals in therapeutic programs are becoming increasingly prevalent. These programs can vary greatly in their approach, scope, and objectives, and they can significantly impact the development of healthy children and those with various disorders. In this systematic review, we sought to investigate the psychological ramifications of animal-assisted activities (AAA), therapies (AAT), and interventions (AAI). We searched for relevant studies using the EBSCO Discovery Service search engine across 85 databases, utilising appropriate keywords. Our search generated 262 results, of which 21 were selected for inclusion after title and abstract screening, as well as full-text analysis. Our findings indicate that dogs and horses are animal-assisted programs' most commonly used animals. Additionally, autism, cerebral palsy, and ADHD were found to be overrepresented in these programs. Furthermore, the length of sessions and overall program duration exhibited considerable variation, regardless of patient age or disease type. The principal measures centred on the physiological variables related to the nervous system and motorium-related indicators. The studies were generally of exceptional methodological soundness. Frequently, the studies narrowed their scope to a single segment or just the child or adolescent, but the outcomes lacked contextual interpretation. Expanding the range of studies by comparing psychological and physiological indicators and conducting follow-up analysis with a longitudinal design would be beneficial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Children and young people (CYP) in care experience poorer physical health and overall wellbeing in comparison to their peers. Despite this, relatively little is known about what their oral health needs and behaviours are. The aim of this scoping review was to provide a global perspective on the oral health status and behaviours of CYP in care and care leavers. It also aimed to synthesise interventions that have been trialled in this population to improve oral health. Methods: Five databases were searched, Ovid Embase, Ovid MEDLINE, CINAHL (EBSCOhost), SocINDEX (EBSCOhost) and Dentistry and Oral Sciences Source (EBSCOhost), alongside grey literature sources up to January 2023. Eligibility criteria were studies that (i) reported on children and adolescents aged 25 years or younger who are currently in formal/informal foster or residential care and care leavers, (ii) pertained to oral health profile, behaviours or oral health promotion interventions (iii) and were published in the English language. Thematic analysis was used to develop the domains for oral health behaviours and interventions. Results: Seventy-one papers were included. Most papers were published from very high or medium Human Development Index countries. CYP in care were found to experience high levels of decay, dental trauma, periodontal disease and poorer oral health-related quality of life. Oral health behaviours included limited oral health self-care behaviours and a lack of oral health-based knowledge. The trialled interventions involved oral health education, supervised brushing and treatment or preventative dental care. Conclusions: This scoping review reveals that CYP in care experience poorer oral health in comparison to their peers. They are also less likely to carry out oral health self-care behaviours. This review highlights a scarcity of interventions to improve the oral health of this population and a paucity of evidence surrounding the oral health needs of care leavers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Childhood and adolescence are critical stages for a healthy life. To support countries in promoting health and development and improving health care for this age group, the WHO Regional Office for Europe developed the European strategy for child and adolescent health 2015-2020, which was adopted by all countries. This paper reports progress in the strategy's implementation until 2020. Methods A survey was sent to all ministries of health of the 53 Member States of the WHO European Region. Responses were received from 45 Member States. Results are presented in this paper. Results The European Region made overall progress in recent years, but increasing levels of overweight and obesity among children, adolescent mental health and low breastfeeding rates are recognized as key national challenges. Although forty-one countries adopted a national child and adolescent health strategy, only eight countries involve children in their review, development and implementation stages. Two-thirds of countries have a strategy for health-promoting schools and a school curriculum for health education. One-third of countries do not have legislation against marketing of unhealthy foods and beverages to children. Most countries reported routine assessment for developmental difficulties in children, but less than a quarter collected and reported data on children who are developmentally on track. There are major gaps in data collection for migrant children. Hospitalization rates for young children vary five-fold across the region, indicating over-hospitalization and access problems in some countries. Only ten countries allow minors access to health care without parental consent based on their maturity and only eleven countries allow school nurses to dispense contraceptives to adolescents without a doctor's prescription. Conclusions This paper shows the progress in child and adolescent health made by countries in Europe until 2020 and key areas where additional work is needed to move the 2030 agenda forward. The survey was undertaken before the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine. Both will likely exacerbate many of the observed problems and potentially reverse some gains reported. A renewed commitment is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Home-based childcare (HBCC) services are among the childcare services available in Malaysia, as ensconsced in the Child Care Centre Act 1984. In Malaysia, HBCC providers are only allowed to care for a minimum of four and a maximum of 10 children. However, this definition does not include small home-based childcare services or childminders who care for less than four children. Employing the qualitative method of content analysis, this study discusses the laws and regulations governing HBCC in Malaysia, particularly the legal requirements that need to be fulfilled. This is further supported by interviews conducted with childcare providers who look after children at their home to examine their level of understanding of the legal requirements under Malaysian childcare laws and regulations. Findings indicate, among others, that the HBCC operators are unaware of the need to register with the Social Welfare Department. The adherence to the legal requirements for this HBCC should not be taken lightly, as it is crucial to ensure the safety and well-being of children. Consequently, greater efforts are required to ensure the children's health and safety because the current procedures rely solely on the experience and expertise of the childcare providers. This paper contributes to the extent of knowledge of HBCC in Malaysia especially towards policy makers, child care operators and parents by exploring the experiences of HBCC childcare providers. It is proposed that continuous improvements need to be made to the laws and regulations on HBCC in ensuring high quality services of HBCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Worldwide, the prevalence of chronic (or long-term) conditions in children and young people from birth to 18 years (children) is increasing. Promoting competent and effective self-management skills early in the trajectory is important to improve adherence to treatment and optimise quality of life. Successful self-management, therefore, requires parents and children who are developmentally able to develop a range of complex skills, including the use of digital technologies. This scoping review aimed to identify primary research investigating digital technologies for children and parents sharing self-management in childhood chronic illnesses. A comprehensive search of electronic databases was conducted. Nineteen papers were included, assessed for quality and methodological rigour using the Hawker tool and thematically analysed. Three themes were identified: (i) the feasibility and acceptability of using technology, (ii) the usability of technologies and (iii) the effect of technologies on adherence and self-management skills. The results indicate that technologies such as mobile apps and websites can assist the management of long-term conditions, are an acceptable method of delivering information and can promote the development of effective self-management skills by parents and children. However, future technology design must include children and parents in all stages of development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Disposable diaper is one of the most polluting products in the world and presents many potential health risks for children. In this paper, to avoid those diaper problems, propose a safer reusable baby diaper with the same performances as disposable diapers with non-harmful materials. A comparative study has been conducted on the developed 3D knitted reusable diaper and some commercial disposable diapers including the most popular diaper goods. Thus, diaper performances have been measured and limit values have been checked. The obtained results prove that the properties of the developed reusable diaper are comparable to those of the disposable baby's diapers available on the market. Finally, using chromatography analysis, we prove the non-harmful compounds in the developed baby diaper. For further investigation, a a new design of the risk assessment matrix related the menace trigger has been also prepared. The developed reusable diaper can be a promising alternative of the diaper with an efficient quality and functionality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Environmental chemical exposures may disrupt child development, with long-lasting health impacts. To date, U.S. studies of early environmental exposures have been limited in size and diversity, hindering power and generalizability. With harmonized data from over 60,000 participants representing 69 pregnancy cohorts, the National Institutes of Healths Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) Program is the largest study of U.S. childrens health. Here, we: (1) review ECHO-wide studies of chemical exposures and maternal-child health; and (2) outline opportunities for future research using ECHO data. RECENT FINDINGS: As of early 2024, in addition to over 200 single-cohort (or award) papers on chemical exposures supported by ECHO, ten collaborative multi-cohort papers have been made possible by ECHO data harmonization and new data collection. Multi-cohort papers have examined prenatal exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), phthalates, phenols and parabens, organophosphate esters (OPEs), metals, melamine and aromatic amines, and emerging contaminants. They have primarily focused on describing patterns of maternal exposure or examining associations with maternal and infant outcomes; fewer studies have examined later child outcomes (e.g., autism) although follow up of enrolled ECHO children continues. The NICHDs Data and Specimen Hub (DASH) database houses extensive ECHO data including over 470,000 chemical assay results and complementary data on priority outcome areas (pre, peri-, and postnatal, airway, obesity, neurodevelopment, and positive health), making it a rich resource for future analyses. ECHOs extensive data repository, including biomarkers of chemical exposures, can be used to advance our understanding of environmental influences on childrens health. Although few published studies have capitalized on these unique harmonized data to date, many analyses are underway with data now widely available.

The humanitarian crisis precipitated by the ongoing conflict in Sudan poses profound risks to the health and welfare of the country's children. This paper explores essential policy interventions to safeguard child mental health services under these challenging circumstances. Crucial strategies include enhancing healthcare accessibility for children and their caregivers, promoting education, and improving household living conditions. Additionally, it is vital to provide improved access to information about nutritious food and strengthen health systems in areas directly exposed to conflict. Cooperation with international aid organizations is paramount to delivering medical supplies to functioning health facilities. The paper also recommends partnerships with local non-governmental and humanitarian organizations to execute public health programs effectively. These multi-faceted policy measures underscore the importance of a comprehensive response to ensure the health and well-being of children amid the turmoil in Sudan. Through these strategies, we aim to provide a blueprint for policymakers and humanitarian organizations to mitigate the devastating impacts of the conflict on the country's most vulnerable population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Active outdoor play is important for children's health and development, and playgrounds provide good places for play. However, the importance of playground use for health and well-being is unclear. Our scoping review aims to create an overview of all research on playground use and health benefits for children. Methods: Scopus, Web of Science, SportDiscus, and PsycInfo were searched using two search blocks, focusing on 'playground' and 'children' respectively, for publications from 2000 to November 2023. The primary inclusion criterion was examining the relationship between playground use and positive physical, mental, or social health outcomes. Only papers published in English were reviewed. For each publication, we synthesized and condensed the results, categorizing them by playground setting, reported health outcome, participant age group, study design, methodologies, publication's country, year, and 'stage of evidence'. Results: Data from 247 studies were extracted and nearly 80% of these publications were descriptive or exploratory studies. Fifty-two were intervention studies. Adding playground markings to schoolyards led to increased physical activity. Greening schoolyards had mainly positive effects on social and mental health. In Early Childhood Education and Care, renewing play structures had a positive effect on physical activity in three publications. All Public Open Space interventions we found were different, with mixed effects on health outcomes. Conclusions: The existing evidence provides good arguments for policy makers, city planners and school-leaders to invest in adding playground markings in schoolyards as this will likely result in more physical activity. The evidence for the health benefits of investing in new play structures indicated that tailoring the playground to local needs is important as 'one size does not fit all' and playgrounds need to be designed as engaging and interesting places for children's play if they are to generate health benefits. Investing in 'greening' playgrounds is likely to result in social and mental health benefits for children, but does not always result in more physical activity. The research field needs more efficacy and effectiveness studies, and in particular replication and scale-up studies to demonstrate which type of playground interventions are successful. Protocol: The review protocol was registered at Open Science Framework (https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/UYN2V). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Health is an inseparable part of life and central to all life supporting systems. The reproductive and child health shares a major portion of public health cases that is crucial for socio-economic development. Studies on reproductive and child health have traditionally been focused on demographic aspects using socio-economic parameters. Given the emphasis of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG)-3 on health and well-being, it is imperative to understand the geo-spatial dimension with the visible transition of key health indicators of fertility, maternal and infant/child health in the high burdened districts within these high focus Empowered Action Group (EAG) states of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar that make up nearly 40% of India's population with relatively laggard health status. Methodology: This paper aims to understand the status and trend of key reproductive and child health indicators and vital statistics based on the recent representative demographic surveys. We intend to undertake a district level spatio-temporal analysis by developing District Composite Health Profile (DCHP) using Composite Index Method on selected 13 equally weighted key reproductive and child health indicators. The study has been carried out using data from National Family Health Survey-4 (2015–16) and National Family Health Survey-5 (2019–21) survey rounds. We employed geo-spatial techniques i.e. Moran's–I, and univariate LISA to comprehend the geographical clustering of high and low health burden districts and their heterogeneities at the district level. Results/Conclusions: The study highlights emerging inter-districts, and inter-state disparities over survey periods. With consistent improvement in the selected EAG states over time, the overall reproductive and child health status through DCHP along with each indicator was relatively better in the states of Rajasthan and worse in Bihar. Districts along the Terai belt in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar consistently performed sluggish during survey rounds. The geo-spatial clustering follows the political boundary of states, albeit with intra-state variations. Monitoring of key health indicators using composite index method provides a useful leverage for identifying priority districts/regions for universal health access that should also consider geographical space as an important policy dimension. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to study the effect of government health expenditure on the health of children (under-five mortality rate and prevalence rate of stunting) among West African countries. Design/methodology/approach: The study utilizes heterogeneous panel from the period 1990 to 2018 among 16 West African countries for the analysis. The effect of government health expenditure on under-five mortality rate is measured in per 1,000 live births while that of stunting is measured in percentage. The study employs Pooled Mean Group (PMG) estimation technique and Impulse Response Functions (IRFs) for the analysis. Findings: The results indicate that government health expenditure has negative effect on under-five mortality rate and prevalence rate of stunting in the long-run but not significant in the short-run. In addition, the IRFs result indicates that under-five mortality rate and prevalence rate of stunting both respond negatively to shocks in government health expenditure. Practical implications: Governments should ensure that inefficiencies in the public health sector are reduced by licensing the health workers of this sector and allowing independent bodies to appoint the heads of health institutions. This will improve the delivering of health services for the health of children. Originality/value: Previous studies carried out have not examined the short-run and long-run effects of the relationship under study among West African countries. Peer review: The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/IJSE-03-2022-0212 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: This study aims to assess the health status and factors influencing healthy choices among children and young people in Romania, as well as the efficacy of related health education programs. Through understanding these dynamics, the study seeks to provide insights that can shape targeted interventions, policies, and educational strategies to improve this demographic's overall health and well-being. Materials and Methods: For this study, we performed a literature review of original published papers on the health status, healthy habits, health education, predisposition to making healthy choices in the future, and accessibility to the paediatric health system of Romanian children and young people, as well as the effects of different types of educational interventions on this demographic in Romania. Results: The prevalence of dental caries is high in Romania. In terms of eating habits and nutritional status, a worrying proportion of children are overweight or obese, which can lead to a variety of future physical and psychological problems. In terms of physical activity, few adolescents demonstrate regular fitness practices. Romania presents an increase in alcohol and tobacco consumption among adolescents. The mental health of students has become a pressing public health concern, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. The use of social networks is linked to mental health issues among young people. Romania still has one of the highest rates of sexually transmitted diseases and faces a high incidence of cervical cancer, with a mortality rate three times higher than the EU average. High rates of teenage pregnancies are linked to limited information about sexuality and a lack of access to family planning at a young age. There are large discrepancies in the accessibility of medical services between urban and rural areas. Conclusions: Romania faces significant obstacles to providing high-quality healthcare to children and young people. Improving nutrition, immunisation rates, and access to medical services represent essential areas for enhancing the health of children and young people in Romania. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Africa has the highest rates of maternal deaths globally which have been linked to poorly functioning health care systems. The pandemic revealed already known weaknesses in the health systems in Africa, such as workforce shortages, lack of equipment and resources. The aim of this paper is to review the published literature on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on maternal and child health in Africa. The integrative review process delineated by Whittemore and Knafl (2005) was used to meet the study aims. The literature search of Ovid Medline, CINAHL, PubMed, WHO, Google and Google scholar, Africa journals online, MIDIRS was limited to publications between March 2020 and May 2022. All the studies went through the PRISMA stages, and 179 full text papers screened for eligibility, 36 papers met inclusion criteria. Of the studies, 6 were qualitative, 25 quantitative studies, and 5 mixed methods. Thematic analysis according to the methods of Braun and Clark (2006) were used to synthesize the data. From the search the six themes that emerged include: effects of lockdown measures, COVID concerns and psychological stress, reduced attendance at antenatal care, childhood vaccination, reduced facility-based births, and increase maternal and child mortality. A review of the literature revealed the following policy issues: The need for government to develop robust response mechanism to public health emergencies that negatively affect maternal and child health issues and devise health policies to mitigate negative effects of lockdown. In times of pandemic there is need to maintain special access for both antenatal care and child delivery services and limit a shift to use of untrained birth attendants to reduce maternal and neonatal deaths. These could be achieved by soliciting investments from various sectors to provide high-quality care that ensures sustainability to all layers of the population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Improving physical, mental and cognitive health is a strategic choice to help developing countries cross the middle-income trap. This paper used data from the 2019 China Rural Children Health and Nutrition Survey (n = 826), and used the Ordered Probit (Oprobit), Logit and ordinary least squares (OLS) analytical methods to systematically analyze the implications of parental migration on multidimensional health. The results indicate that parental migration significantly harms the physical and mental health of rural children, and that mobile phone addiction has a significant moderating effect. Moreover, parental migration has a greater impact on the physical health, mental health and cognitive ability of boys and rural children with low family income, while parents with higher nutrition knowledge and education can effectively improve the physical health and cognitive ability of their children. In conclusion, in order to improve the multidimensional health of rural children, the government should strengthen the policy of care and support for children whose parents migrate. Schools and families should pay attention to the supervision of rural children's mobile phone addiction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A child's body is highly sensitive to air quality, especially regarding the concentration of particulate matter (PM). Nevertheless, due to the high cost of precision instruments, measurements of PM concentrations are rarely carried out in school areas where children spend most of their daily time. This paper presents the results of PM measurements made by a validated, low-cost university air pollution measurement system operating in a rural area near schools. An assessment of children's exposure to PM during school hours (8 a.m.–6 p.m.) at different times of the year was carried out. We show that PM10 concentrations in the air, particularly in winter, often exceeded the alert values of 50 µg m−3, posing a health risk to children, especially when children exercise outside the school building. We also calculated the rate and total PM10 deposition in the respiratory tract during various physical activities performed in clean and polluted air. Monitoring actual PM10 concentrations as presented in this paper, using a low cost sensors, offer school authorities and teachers an opportunity to reduce health risks for children. This can be achieved by adjusting the duration and exercise intensity of children's outdoor physical activities according to the measured air quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To estimate the effects of prenatal public health insurance targeting noncitizens on the health of U.S.‐born children of noncitizen mothers beyond birth outcomes. Data Sources and Study Setting: This paper uses the restricted version of the 1998–2014 National Health Interview Survey with state‐level geographic identifiers. Study Design: The empirical strategy compares outcomes in states that adopted the Children's Health Insurance Plan (CHIP) Unborn Child Option with states that never adopted or adopted it at different times, controlling for differences in the pre‐treatment period. I use a flexible event‐study analysis to quantify the effects of the Unborn Child Option on noncitizen women's health insurance coverage, health care utilization, and their children's health. Data Collection/Extraction Methods: All data are derived from pre‐existing sources. Principal Findings: The study finds that the impact of the Unborn Child Option is a 4.7%‐point increase in public health insurance coverage (p < 0.01) and 0.48 more doctor's office visits (p < 0.1) annually among noncitizens of childbearing ages. Subsequently, the reform leads to a 7%‐point rise in the rate of parents reporting their 4–6‐year‐old children are in "excellent" or "very good" health (p < 0.01). While no improvements are evident at birth and at younger ages, observed health improvements begin to appear by preschool age. Conclusions: The study contributes to the literature by providing evidence that certain benefits of in‐utero public health insurance targeting noncitizens may appear several years after birth, specifically around preschool age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Computer vision is a powerful tool for healthcare applications since it can provide objective diagnosis and assessment of pathologies, not depending on clinicians' skills and experiences. It can also help speed-up population screening, reducing health care costs and improving the quality of service. Several works summarise applications and systems in medical imaging, whereas less work is devoted to surveying approaches for healthcare goals using ambient intelligence, i.e., observing individuals in natural settings. Even more, there is a lack of papers providing a survey of works exhaustively covering computer vision applications for children's health, which is a particularly challenging research area considering that most existing computer vision technologies have been trained and tested only on adults. The aim of this paper is then to survey, for the first time in the literature, the papers covering children's health-related issues by ambient intelligence methods and systems relying on computer vision. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Families play a primary role in protecting children. Thirdhand smoke (THS) is an underestimated public health issue, and health effects correlated to its exposition are emerging. The aim of this systematic review was to analyze papers focusing on knowledge, beliefs, and behaviors regarding THS among parents, families, and caregivers, published until May 2022 on MEDLINE, CINAHL, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library. Critical appraisal of the included studies was conducted by two independent reviewers using the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal tool. Out of the 97 articles, 8 were included in this review (two from the USA, one from Europe, and five from Asia). Although there were no restrictions on the date of publication, all the articles were published in the last 10 years, underlining that THS is an emerging concept. They were characterized by relevant heterogeneity in the study design and assessment tools. The results showed that percentages of parents who believed that THS is harmful ranged from 42.4% to 91%, but parental awareness was not always associated with the adoption of a home- and car-smoking ban or healthy behaviors. Further research is needed to understand the resistance and problems faced by parents who are aware of THS risks but unable to improve good practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the past few years, Online Education has been an interesting research topic. Many educationists are working on the future and the scope of online education. The COVID-19 outbreak has become a major source of imparting knowledge among children about their health and safety. While talking about EdTech, it should be kept in mind that internet connectivity and the lecturer play an important role in defining the effectiveness of online education. The paper mainly focuses on online education as the new emerging business in the country. The paper also talks about its growing role and increasing contribution to GDP in reference to the COVID-19 pandemic. Earlier, there was less awareness and trend of online learning; however, it is interesting to know that the outbreak of the pandemic has highlighted the importance of online learning, and it has emerged as a rare business that has shown an upward trend in the crisis. Online learning has emerged as an affordable, convenient and time-efficient method of gaining knowledge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The aim of this research was to synthetise the existing evidence on the impact of epidemic-related lockdown measures on women and children's health in low- and lower-middle-income countries (LLMICs). Methods: A mixed-methods systematic review was conducted of qualitative, quantitative and mixed-methods evidence. Between 1st and 10th of November 2021, seven scientific databases were searched. The inclusion criteria were that the paper provided evidence on the impact of lockdown and related measures, focused on LLMICs, addressed impacts on women and child's health, addressed epidemics from 2000-2020, was peer-reviewed, provided original evidence, and was published in English. The Joanne Briggs Institute's critical appraisal tools were used to assess the quality of the studies, and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines for reporting. The evidence from the papers was grouped by type of lockdown measure and categories of impact, using a narrative databased convergent synthesis design. Results: The review process identified 46 papers meeting the inclusion criteria from 17 countries that focussed on the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and Ebola epidemics. The evidence on the decrease of utilisation of health services showed plummeting immunisation rates and faltering use of maternal and perinatal services, which was linked to a growth of premature deaths. Impacts on the mental health of children and women were convincingly established, with lockdowns associated with surges in depression, anxiety and low life satisfaction. Vulnerability may be compounded by lockdowns, as livelihoods were disrupted, and poverty levels increased. Conclusion: Limitations included that searches were conducted in late-2020 as new research was being published, and that some evidence not published in English may have been excluded. Epidemic-related lockdown measures carry consequences for the health of women and children in lower-income settings. Governments will need to weigh the tradeoffs of introducing such measures and consider policies to mitigate their impacts on the most vulnerable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes the practice of an integrated family approach to treatment in mental health care in which the focus is on the whole family and treatment is carried out by professionals of adult and child mental health services together. It is presented as an example of a best practice in finding a way to overcome barriers in implementing an integrated family approach in treatment for the benefit of families with a variety of interrelated problems. Even though there is a lot of knowledge about the importance of a family approach in mental health care with specific attention to the patients’ parental role, the children, family relationships, and the social economic context, this is worldwide rarely implemented in the practice of mental health care. Barriers to keep the whole family in mind are identified on different levels: organizational policy, interagency collaboration, professionals, and patients themselves. As a solution, a model of an integrated family approach in mental health care is presented: how it is defined; which domains in the family are targeted; which key elements it contains; what the treatment consists of; and which procedures are followed in practice. A case illustrates how this approach might work in practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Sub-Saharan Africa is the region with the highest under-five mortality rate globally. Child healthcare decisions should be based on rigorously developed evidence-informed guidelines. The Global Evidence, Local Adaptation (GELA) project is enhancing capacity to use global research to develop locally relevant guidelines for newborn and child health in South Africa (SA), Malawi, and Nigeria. The first step in this process was to identify national priorities for newborn and child health guideline development, and this paper describes our approach. Methods: We followed a good practice method for priority setting, including stakeholder engagement, online priority setting surveys and consensus meetings, conducted separately in South Africa, Malawi and Nigeria. We established national Steering Groups (SG), comprising 10–13 members representing government, academia, and other stakeholders, identified through existing contacts and references, who helped prioritise initial topics identified by research teams and oversaw the process. Various stakeholders were consulted via online surveys to rate the importance of topics, with results informing consensus meetings with SGs where final priority topics were agreed. Results: Based on survey results, nine, 10 and 11 topics were identified in SA, Malawi, and Nigeria respectively, which informed consensus meetings. Through voting and discussion within meetings, and further engagement after the meetings, the top three priority topics were identified in each country. In SA, the topics concerned anemia prevention in infants and young children and post-discharge support for caregivers of preterm and LBW babies. In Malawi, they focused on enteral nutrition in critically ill children, diagnosis of childhood cancers in the community, and caring for neonates. In Nigeria, the topics focused on identifying pre-eclampsia in the community, hand hygiene compliance to prevent infections, and enteral nutrition for LBW and preterm infants. Conclusions: Through dynamic and iterative stakeholder engagement, we identified three priority topics for guideline development on newborn and child health in SA, Malawi and Nigeria. Topics were specific to contexts, with no overlap, which highlights the importance of contextualised priority setting as well as of the relationships with key decisionmakers who help define the priorities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Exercise is widely understood to improve health outcomes in children and adolescents and to contribute to the prevention and management of many chronic conditions. Australian children are not currently meeting the recommended physical activity guidelines, and these habits are likely to extend into adulthood without intervention. Objective The aim of this paper is to provide general practitioners (GPs) with the tools to perform a basic exercise assessment with children and adolescents and an understanding of the core principles of exercise prescription for general and special paediatric populations. Discussion GPs are limited by time often precluding the assessment of exercise levels in children and adolescents unless it is immediately relevant to their presentation. This article discusses simple methods of assessing physical activity, the importance of appropriately prescribed exercise and its benefits for physical, psychological and social health and wellbeing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Breast milk holds an immense nutritional value as it contains health-promoting substances in a unique, optimal form. Additionally, breast milk's significance extends to health and environmental protection, as it serves as an indicator of both maternal and infant exposure. In this study, breast milk samples collected in 2013 and in 2014–2016 from mothers in Vienna (Austria) were analysed for polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE) and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), as well as further substances which have been listed under the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) due to their persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic properties. The total concentration of the PBDE congeners in the samples (n = 18, sampled 2013) ranged from 0.055 to 52 ng/g lipid, and from 0.002 to 2.5 ng/g breast milk. In the pooled sample, the sum of PBDEs was detected at a level of 4.4 ng/g lipid. Based on the 2014–2016 study population, certain PFAS were detected in all samples (n = 40). Exposure to the sum of four specific PFAS including perfluorooctanesulphonate (PFOS), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluoro-n-nonanoic acid (PFNA) and perfluoro-1-hexanesulfonate (PFHxS) ranged between 0.014 and 0.12 ng/L breast milk. In the pooled sample, PFOS and PFOA were found in concentrations of 0.025 ng/g and of 0.045 ng/g, respectively. In addition, the first generation of POPs, mainly organochlorine compounds, was measured in a pooled sample of breast milk from participants sampled in 2014–2016 as part of the WHO/UNEP breast milk monitoring program and compared to the POPs measured in pooled samples collected in 1987/1988 and 1992/1993, respectively. Therefore, this paper demonstrates the effectiveness of the Stockholm Convention on POPs by comparing the Austrian results from the WHO/UNEP global breast milk study from 1987 to 2016. However, the data also show that, despite these reductions, health-relevant levels are still being reached, particularly in terms of children's health when the presence of the new generation of POPs, such as PBDEs and PFAS, in human breast milk is taken into account. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Electronic clinical decision-making support systems (eCDSS) aim to assist clinicians making complex patient management decisions and improve adherence to evidence-based guidelines. Integrated management of Childhood Illness (IMCI) provides guidelines for management of sick children attending primary health care clinics and is widely implemented globally. An electronic version of IMCI (eIMCI) was developed in South Africa. Methods: We conducted a cluster randomized controlled trial comparing management of sick children with eIMCI to the management when using paper-based IMCI (pIMCI) in one district in KwaZulu-Natal. From 31 clinics in the district, 15 were randomly assigned to intervention (eIMCI) or control (pIMCI) groups. Computers were deployed in eIMCI clinics, and one IMCI trained nurse was randomly selected to participate from each clinic. eIMCI participants received a one-day computer training, and all participants received a similar three-day IMCI update and two mentoring visits. A quantitative survey was conducted among mothers and sick children attending participating clinics to assess the quality of care provided by IMCI practitioners. Sick child assessments by participants in eIMCI and pIMCI groups were compared to assessment by an IMCI expert. Results: Self-reported computer skills were poor among all nurse participants. IMCI knowledge was similar in both groups. Among 291 enrolled children: 152 were in the eIMCI group; 139 in the pIMCI group. The mean number of enrolled children was 9.7 per clinic (range 7-12). IMCI implementation was sub-optimal in both eIMCI and pIMCI groups. eIMCI consultations took longer than pIMCI consultations (median duration 28 minutes vs 25 minutes; p = 0.02). eIMCI participants were less likely than pIMCI participants to correctly classify children for presenting symptoms, but were more likely to correctly classify for screening conditions, particularly malnutrition. eIMCI participants were less likely to provide all required medications (124/152; 81.6% vs 126/139; 91.6%, p= 0.026), and more likely to prescribe unnecessary medication (48/152; 31.6% vs 20/139; 14.4%, p = 0.004) compared to pIMCI participants. Conclusions: Implementation of eIMCI failed to improve management of sick children, with poor IMCI implementation in both groups. Further research is needed to understand barriers to comprehensive implementation of both pIMCI and eIMCI. (349) Clinical trials registration: Clinicaltrials.gov ID: BFC157/19, August 2019. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 2030 Agenda for sustainable development was launched to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) across the globe. This paper is based on the primary database to assess the nutritional status of 5–10 years children and the incidence of deprivation in their households of a backward district (Purulia), India in the context of the first two SDGs, e.g., no poverty and zero hunger. We conclude that around 74% of children are undernourished. The proportion of households multidimensionally deprived is 90%, and the majority of them live on less than $1.25 a day. Results reveal that the BMI of mother and the education of father are the two most statistically significant predictors of child malnutrition. Purulia has long been witnessing the persistent nature of deprivation, which is well reflected in the child's health. The district is quite far from the national targets in achieving the SDGs. Government, private sector, and civil society must come together to accelerate the progress of SDGs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rapid growth in digital technology usage among children and adolescents has highlighted the need for novel approaches to promote their physical and mental health. This paper investigates the viability of gamification—the application of game mechanics to non-gaming contexts—as a potent instrument for health promotion and mental health support. This conceptual systematic review seeks to examine the various published articles promoting children and adolescents' physical and mental health through gamified techniques. These interventions can provide an interactive and engaging platform for encouraging physical activity, promoting healthy nutrition, enhancing emotional regulation, and promoting mental health. The significance of this topic stems from the pervasive use of electronic games, beginning at a young age, which makes them popular educational tools. For the review to be systematic and reproducible, the PsycINFO, Scopus, PubMed, and Elsevier databases were searched and the PRISMA method was utilized for the analysis. After analyzing the research data, empirical studies assessing the use of gamification in promoting adolescents' physical and mental health are discussed. In conclusion, gamification has demonstrated promise for promoting children's and adolescents' physical and mental health. It improves motivation, commitment, and adherence to healthy behaviors. However, additional research is required to evaluate gamification interventions' long-term effectiveness and sustainability in promoting health behaviors among this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intersubjectivity describes the awareness of self and other’s intentions and feelings in the dynamic sharing of minds acting in companionship, exchanging self-conscious intentions and emotional evaluations. Since 1960, when studies of infants disproved the theory of the young mind as a sensory-motor computer that is “conditioned” to learn facts symbolized in language, psychology now highlights the natural science of infant awareness, intelligence, intentions, and emotions and their sharing in embodied, non-verbal participation with others. This has fundamental implications for support of children’s health, growth and learning in Psychology, Education, Pediatrics, Psychiatry and Psychotherapy and for mental health of infants, parents and teachers. It has strong confirmation by recent functional brain science. In this Research Topic entitled “Intersubjectivity: recent advances in theory, research, and practice,” we advance the science of intersubjectivity by bringing together new empirical studies, review, hypothesis and theory papers with advanced scholarship on the early emergence of human consciousness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a growing interest in adopting a holistic circular economy (CE) to reach a sustainable and economically viable future, thus there is an increasing need for professionals in the field to do so efficiently. In this regard, good education and knowledge sharing are crucial. This knowledge sharing is bi-directional across generations, with everyone gaining equally from the various viewpoints and experiences. CE strategy research and education are beneficial for the implementation of sustainable development that considers economic, social, and environmental spheres. Additionally, attention is being paid to the younger generation, which is now focused on addressing climate change, as evidenced by the growth of the post-Greta Thunberg phenomena. As a result, this paper proposes a set of recommendations to improve measures for circular economy education (ECE) in order to train future CE experts who can contribute to achieving successful sustainable development. This research proposes, through a literature review and case studies analyses, that enhancing ECE can cultivate future CE specialists who can contribute to the successful pursuit of sustainable development as the demand for green jobs grows. According to our preliminary understanding, widespread ECE can be a critical tool for bringing together experienced circular professionals, students, and younger generations, in meeting their needs and advancing circular development through various forms, including specific training and reskilling of professionals required. However, we discovered a lack of consensus across the case studies on the ideal CE expert or educational modality, which is mirrored in the literature, indicating the need for greater collaboration among different disciplines and stakeholders. There also appears to be a general lack of awareness about the benefits of the CE, necessitating the collaboration between the private and public sectors in providing educational opportunities, accessible study materials, and research funding to accelerate innovation and competitiveness. Thus, institutions and businesses could play a role in standardising basic circular principles and competencies in CE as a means of providing basic guidelines that could be supplemented with specialised courses and diverse content ranging from public knowledge to more specialised professionals or students aiding the implementation of CE strategies, which reduce local disparities increasing green jobs accessibility for youth. Conclusively, this paper looks to provide recommendations for improvements in this field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Little is known about the impact of "home-based records" on the health promotion of mothers and children. Considering this, we compiled and analysed existing evidence on the effectiveness of a specific home-based record, the Maternal and Child Health Handbook (MCHHB), in enhancing the health of mothers and their children. A systematic search of PubMed, Google Scholar, Maternity, and Infant Care, CINHAL, and Ovid was conducted. All types of original research articles published in English were considered. A narrative synthesis was used due to the heterogeneity of findings among the included studies. Out of a total of 1351 papers, 45 studies were included. Breastfeeding, immunisation, family planning, antenatal care, maternal nutrition, maternal Tetanus Toxoid (TT) immunisation, vitamin A and iron supplements, smoking and alcohol consumption during pregnancy, healthy and safe delivery, awareness of pregnancy complications, and healthy child development are all areas where MCHHB has been implemented and evaluated. Although one study found no effect, our findings indicate a positive impact. The results emphasised the effectiveness and value of MCHHB in enhancing maternal and infant health. However, given that only a small number of studies were available for each outcome group, we suggest more research be conducted on the MCHHB's positive effects on mothers' and children's health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Co‐production with communities is increasingly seen as best practice that can improve the quality, relevance and effectiveness of research and service delivery. Despite this promising position, there remains uncertainty around definitions of co‐production and how to operationalize it. The current paper describes the development of a co‐production strategy to guide the work of the ActEarly multistakeholder preventative research programme to improve children's health in Bradford and Tower Hamlets, UK. Methods: The strategy used Appreciative Inquiry (AI), an approach following a five‐step iterative process: to define (Step 1) scope and guide progress; to discover (Step 2) key issues through seven focus groups (N = 36) and eight in‐depth interviews with key stakeholders representing community groups, and the voluntary and statutory sectors; to dream (Step 3) best practice through two workshops with AI participants to review findings; to design (Step 4) a co‐production strategy building on AI findings and to deliver (Step 5) the practical guidance in the strategy. Results: Nine principles for how to do co‐production well were identified: power should be shared; embrace a wide range of perspectives and skills; respect and value the lived experience; benefits should be for all involved parties; go to communities and do not expect them to come to you; work flexibly; avoid jargon and ensure availability of the right information; relationships should be built for the long‐term; co‐production activities should be adequately resourced. These principles were based on three underlying values of equality, reciprocity and agency. Conclusion: The empirical insights of the paper highlight the crucial importance of adequate resources and infrastructure to deliver effective co‐production. This documentation of one approach to operationalizing co‐production serves to avert any misappropriations of the term 'co‐production' by listening to service users, stakeholders and other relevant groups, to develop trust and long‐term relationships, and build on the learning that already exists amongst such groups. Patient or Public Contribution: The work was overseen by a steering group (N = 17) of individuals, both professional and members of the public with experience in undertaking co‐production, and/or with some knowledge of the context of the two ActEarly field sites, who provided regular oversight and feedback on the AI process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Low and middle-income countries continue to use Verbal autopsies (VAs) as a World Health Organisation-recommended method to ascertain causes of death in settings where coverage of vital registration systems is not yet comprehensive. Whilst the adoption of VA has resulted in major improvements in estimating cause-specific mortality in many settings, well documented limitations have been identified relating to the standardisation of the processes involved. The WHO has invested significant resources into addressing concerns in some of these areas; there however remains enduring challenges particularly in operationalising VA surveys for deaths amongst women and children, challenges which have measurable impacts on the quality of data collected and on the accuracy of determining the final cause of death. In this paper we describe some of our key experiences and recommendations in conducting VAs from over two decades of evaluating seminal trials of maternal and child health interventions in rural Ghana. We focus on challenges along the entire VA pathway that can impact on the success rates of ascertaining the final cause of death, and lessons we have learned to optimise the procedures. We highlight our experiences of the value of the open history narratives in VAs and the training and skills required to optimise the quality of the information collected. We describe key issues in methods for ascertaining cause of death and argue that both automated and physician-based methods can be valid depending on the setting. We further summarise how increasingly popular information technology methods may be used to facilitate the processes described. Verbal autopsy is a vital means of increasing the coverage of accurate mortality statistics in low- and middle-income settings, however operationalisation remains problematic. The lessons we share here in conducting VAs within a long-term surveillance system in Ghana will be applicable to researchers and policymakers in many similar settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In 2016, we developed a pediatric parent advisory group to inform our research program which creates innovative knowledge translation (KT) tools for parents on priority topics related to acute childhood illness. We implemented a mixed methods strategy to evaluate the experiences of group members. The purpose of this paper is to present the findings from parent evaluations over four years and to discuss our experiences collaborating with the group over a multi-year period. Methods: We conducted year-end surveys and interviews of group members to understand parents' perceptions of their experiences, group management, researcher interaction, and other outcomes of advisory group participation from 2018 to 2021. We applied a mixed methods approach, collecting and analyzing both quantitative (survey) and qualitative (survey/interview) data. Survey data were analyzed by term using descriptive statistics (i.e., frequencies, percentages). Open-ended survey responses were analyzed by conventional content analysis. Interview data were analysed thematically. Results: Year-end survey response rates and interview participation varied over the years. Responses to evaluation questions were generally positive and most improved over time. Results prompted changes to improve P-PAG operations, such as changes to location of meetings, communications about the group's purpose, offering sufficient context for discussion items, and providing feedback about how members' input was used. Themes identified from the qualitative data related to the importance of certain aspects of group functioning, positive views of the group's current management, and potential areas for improvement. Parents regularly expressed a desire for more diversity in the group's membership and an interest in hearing more about how the research program's activities fit into the broader healthcare system and their impacts on health outcomes. Conclusions: Our experience in establishing, managing, and evaluating a parent advisory group over many years has resulted in valuable insights regarding patient engagement in health research and sustaining an advisory group over time. We have learned that an intentional and iterative approach with regular evaluations and responsive changes has been essential for fostering meaningful engagement. Significant resources are required to maintain the group; in turn, the group has made substantial and diverse contributions to the research program and its outputs. Plain English summary: We developed a parent advisory group in 2016 to support our research program in knowledge translation (KT, i.e., sharing research in accessible ways to inform decision-making) for child health. The purpose of the group is to involve parents in co-developing, evaluating, and sharing KT tools (e.g., videos, infographics). The group has also worked with researchers to inform methods and provide input on research projects and products. The group has been running for seven years and has involved different types of evaluations, including parent surveys and interviews. Parents had generally positive views of their experience with the group (including the group's management, interactions with researchers, etc.) and their responses mostly improved over the years. Based on parents' feedback, we made changes to improve the group's operations, such as changing the frequency and location of meetings, regular communications about the group's purpose, offering more context and time for individual discussion items, and providing feedback to parents about how their input was used. Parents regularly expressed a desire for more diversity in the group's membership. They also expressed an interest in hearing more about how the research program fit into the broader healthcare system and impacts on health outcomes. We have learned that it takes a large amount of time, effort, and funding to run the group; however, the parent contributions have been valuable and wide-reaching. We feel that the evaluations and responsive changes to the group over time have been essential to sustain and foster meaningful engagement and achieve the group's objectives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social determinants of health (SDH) influence health and social outcomes in positive and negative ways. Understanding the impact of SDH on children with cerebral palsy (CP) is essential to improve health equity, optimize health outcomes, and support children with CP and their families to thrive in society. In this narrative review, we summarize the landscape of SDH impacting children with CP and their families worldwide. In high‐income countries, children from poorer neighbourhoods are more likely to have severe comorbidities, present with spastic bilateral CP, and report lower frequency of participation in community activities. In low‐ and middle‐income countries, socioeconomic disadvantage is associated with increased risk of malnutrition, living in poorer housing conditions, not having access to proper sanitation, and living below the poverty line. Low maternal education is associated with increased likelihood of the child with CP experiencing increased severity of gross motor and bimanual functioning challenges, and poorer academic performance. Lower parental education is also associated with reduced child autonomy. On the other hand, higher parental income is a protective factor, associated with greater diversity of participation in day‐to‐day activities. A better physical environment and better social support are associated with higher participation in daily activities. Clinicians, researchers, and the community should be aware of these key challenges and opportunities. Then adopt a range of approaches that target adverse SDH/social needs and foster positive SDH in the clinical setting. What this paper adds: Understanding how social determinants of health influence health and social outcomes is a critical step towards improving health equity and outcomes.Approaches are required that target the impact of adverse SDH on access to health care for children with cerebral palsy and that work towards ensuring equity of access for all. What this paper adds: Understanding how social determinants of health influence health and social outcomes is a critical step towards improving health equity and outcomes.Approaches are required that target the impact of adverse SDH on access to health care for children with cerebral palsy and that work towards ensuring equity of access for all. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Parents of children suffering from malignant diseases indubitably represent a very dainty population, underrepresented in psychosocial research. It is common for these parents to move to the hospital wards in order to support their children, which causes an unnatural cut in their lifeline, in addition to coping with terrifying diagnosis. Coping with a child's malignant disease includes a continuous feeling of fear and concern, and change in the overall family dynamics, but also the cessation of daily life activities, even outside the context of a global pandemic, some pre-COVID research had shown. COVID-19 brought some additional challenges. In order to protect children's fragile physical state, parents were obliged to adapt to new rules and distance from the others even more. At the same time, their fears and worries grew only bigger and coping mechanisms were seriously limited. Subjects and Methods: In this paper we investigate parental experiences and needs during COVID-19 crisis. Semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with ten mothers with experience of children's in-patient treatment before and during pandemics. Results: According to main findings, theoretical model of parental adjustment and wellbeing in health crisis is proposed. Conclusion: Results imply the necessity to consider parental psychological wellbeing in order to support them and their children, especially when additional stressful and/or traumatic experiences emerge, and treat them as especially vulnerable group in research and practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Outdoor free play encompasses unstructured, self-directed play in the outdoors and has been shown to support children's health and development. Accurate and reliable measures are required to conduct research on children's outdoor free play and examine cross-sectional and longitudinal variation. This study systematically reviews and evaluates measurement approaches for children's outdoor free play used in existing literature. A scoping review was conducted to identify English-language peer-reviewed and grey literature that included measurements of the occurrence, frequency or duration of outdoor free play with children aged 2 to 17 years old. Studies were excluded if the outdoor free play measure included structured settings or activities, or focused on a specific location or play activity. Quantitative and qualitative content analysis was used to consider outdoor free play terminology, definition, and operationalization; positioning in relation to other variables and the topic of interest; and data collection context. A total of 4,860 unique studies were identified. After screening and full-text review, 184 papers were taken forward for analysis. Parent-recall questionnaires were used in 70.1% of included studies to measure outdoor free play, often using a single question to capture the variable. A lack of differentiation between outdoor play emanating from structured and unstructured settings was common, as was limited consideration of contextual factors such as season, school or non-school days, and time of day. The implications of existing approaches to measuring children's outdoor free play and the need for valid and reliable measures to further research examining children's outdoor free play are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Mental health concerns prevent positive well-being and are key challenges for Australian children and young people. Arts organisations play a role in enhancing the positive mental health of children and young people. This paper describes the involvement of young people and their parents in the development of a resource for arts organisations' intentional support of social and emotional well-being. Methods: Six focus groups were conducted with 19 young people who participate in dance, drama, and circus programs, and 17 of their parents. Questions explored how the arts currently, and potentially, support their social and emotional well-being. Results: Three overarching themes: Connecting with Others; Being Myself; and Teaching Methods, plus 14 sub-themes were identified. Conclusion: A framework of well-being factors and pedagogies was developed to guide the creation of a resource to help support the social and emotional well-being of young people participating in arts programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a growing literature documenting the link between parental migration and children's health. However, few studies have explained the underlying mechanism of this observed relationship. This paper examines the effect of parental migration on children's health through dietary diversity, using survey data collected in a less developed prefecture in South Central China in 2018. To overcome the potential endogeneity of parental migration, we instrument parental migration with the proportion of households with migrated labor force at the village level, and find that parental migration reduces children's dietary diversity at home. Moreover, we provide suggestive evidence that the reduction in dietary diversity may attribute to significant negative separation effects whereas minimal positive income effects in migrant-sending households. This study highlights the negative effects of labor migration on the next generation's nutrition. In those developing countries with a high prevalence of labor migration, policies that facilitate access to dietary diversity of those left-behind children are warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Child labour is a controversial issue both in presentday as well as in past societies. In historical perspective, studies focus on the factory labour of children during the industrialization process. On the one hand, its contribution to the family income is mentioned as a potential positive effect on the living standard of the whole family, on the other hand reference is made to the permanent health risks for children working in the factories. Using qualitative sources, there were contemporary testimonies supporting both views. The present paper, thererfore, uses a rather quantitive approach referring to the number of working days lost due to illness, anthropometric indicators such a height and weight, the results of draft examinations as well as mortality differences and cause-of-death rates from "accidents" in urban and rural areas during the nineteenth century. Available data do not provide clear evidence of direct harmful effects of child labour; many indications point to a neutral or even positive effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Underserved communities face critical health challenges due to lack of access to timely and reliable information. Nongovernmental organizations are leveraging the widespread use of cellphones to combat these healthcare challenges and spread preventative awareness. The health workers at these organizations reach out individually to beneficiaries; however, such programs still suffer from declining engagement. We have deployed Saheli, a system to efficiently utilize the limited availability of health workers for improving maternal and child health in India. Saheli uses the Restless Multi‐armed Bandit (RMAB) framework to identify beneficiaries for outreach. It is the first deployed application for RMABs in public health, and is already in continuous use by our partner NGO, ARMMAN. We have already reached ∼130K beneficiaries with Saheli, and are on track to serve one million beneficiaries by the end of 2023. This scale and impact has been achieved through multiple innovations in the RMAB model and its development, in preparation of real world data, and in deployment practices; and through careful consideration of responsible AI practices. Specifically, in this paper, we describe our approach to learn from past data to improve the performance of Saheli's RMAB model, the real‐world challenges faced during deployment and adoption of Saheli, and the end‐to‐end pipeline. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Left-behind children, as a special phenomenon group stationed in rural areas, lack parents' education and care for a long time and shoulder the burden of life early. Moreover, in rural areas with relatively closed information, their communication with their parents only relies on short-term telephone contact. If things go on like this, it may lead to mental health problems in children. In recent years, the group of left-behind children began to get the attention of the society. The social people want to help the left-behind children mainly through the information provided by the school, which cannot actually understand the real situation of the left-behind children, and the help to the left-behind children is only a drop in the bucket. Therefore, it is necessary to use the internet as a convenient and fast platform to build a mobile information system for the mental health of rural left-behind children, input the mental health of left-behind children, and pay attention to and track the left-behind children. This paper mainly studies the construction of the rural left-behind children's mental health mobile information system based on the Internet of Things. This paper expounds the related concepts of the Internet of Things, which has a good connection effect on the construction of the left-behind children's mental health mobile information system. Then, it analyzes the functional requirements of the rural left-behind children's mental health mobile information system, in terms of design, the C/S model is used, the database in the data server is designed to analyze the mental health information management needs of left-behind children, and the data model is established by defining the key domains in the system. This paper also collects and sorts out the left-behind children's mental health data through data mining technology, studies the factors affecting the left-behind children's mental health, and clarifies the necessity of constructing the rural left-behind children's mental health mobile information system and focuses on the observation objects. The results show that the evaluation factors of left-behind children's mental health are significantly higher than those of non-left-behind children, and their mental health needs attention because left-behind children lack the care of their parents for a long time. The mental health status of left-behind children aged 7–12 is the most worrying, which is significantly different from other age groups in obsessive-compulsive disorder, interpersonal sensitivity, anxiety, hostility, paranoia, and mental illness. It may be because left-behind children aged 7–12 are in the development stage, they are not as ignorant as left-behind children aged 1–6, and they are not as mature as left-behind children aged 13–17. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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