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Children's mental health status (MHS) is frequently influenced by their primary carers (PCs), underscoring the significance of monitoring disparities longitudinally. This research investigated the association between socio‐demographic clusters and mental health trajectories among children and their PCs over time. Data from waves 6‐9c2 of the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children (LSAC) were analyzed using Latent Class Analysis (LCA) to identify four socio‐demographic classes among children aged 10–11 years at wave 6. Multinomial logistic regression and predictive marginal analysis explored associations between classes and mental health outcomes. PCs in Class 4 (disadvantaged and separated families with indigenous children) exhibited higher odds of borderline and abnormal MHS compared to Class 1 (prosperous and stable working families) across all waves. However, while MHS of PCs' impacted children consistently, the association with socio‐demographic classes was significant only in wave 6. Class 4 children had elevated risks of mental illness compared to Class 1, while Class 3, characterized by educated working mothers, had lower risks. Reducing mental health risks entails addressing socio‐economic disparities, supporting stable family structures, and offering tailored interventions like counseling and co‐parenting support. Longitudinal monitoring and culturally sensitive approaches are crucial for promoting mental well‐being across diverse groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Health policies and public health studies in Bangladesh primarily focus on physical aspects of health, thus creating a gap in the literature regarding the assessment of the emotional-social environment for children and their developmental vulnerabilities. Interactions though literacy activities, such as shared reading times between child and parents, are possible ways to address the developmental and cognitive needs of children. This study explores the district-wise presence of books for children (aged 0-4 years) in households and identifies vulnerable households by exploring the association between sociodemographic status and household book ownership. The Bangladesh Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey 2012-13 was used to map the spatial heterogeneity of average availability of children's books, which revealed that ownership of age-appropriate books was clustered around divisional cities, with one exception. Around 65% of the households did not have any suitable books for children. The presence of children's books was significantly (p < 0.005) associated with children's age, mother's age and education, financial status of the household, education of the head of the house, mother's mobile phone ownership, and mother's access to media (newspaper and television). Parents in high-income households and with highly educated mothers were nearly three times more likely to own children's books. Similarly, parents in a household with the mother having a mobile phone were 42% more likely to own children's books. The findings suggest that a household's lack of financial capacity to purchase books, the role of public health media in promoting the mother's awareness of the need for children's books, and a lack of understanding of children's cognitive developmental needs could be more effectively addressed in Bangladesh.