Search

This study explores the cognitive development of children born to adolescent mothers within South Africa compared to existing reference data, and explores development by child age bands to examine relative levels of development. Cross-sectional analyses present data from 954 adolescents (10-19 years) and their first-born children (0-68 months). All adolescents completed questionnaires relating to themselves and their children, and standardized child cognitive assessments (Mullen Scales of Early Learning) were undertaken. Cognitive development scores of the sample were lower than USA reference population scores and relative performance compared to the reference population was found to decline with increasing child age. When compared to children born to adult mothers in the sub-Saharan African region, children born to adolescent mothers (human immunodeficiency virus [HIV] unexposed; n = 724) were found to have lower cognitive development scores. Findings identify critical periods of development where intervention may be required to bolster outcomes for children born to adolescent mothers.

The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in high death rates globally, and over 10.5 million children lost a parent or primary caregiver. Because HIV-related orphanhood has been associated with elevated HIV risk, we sought to examine HIV risk in children affected by COVID-19 orphanhood. Four hundred and twenty-one children and adolescents were interviewed, measuring seven HIV risk behaviours: condom use, age-disparate sex, transactional sex, multiple partners, sex associated with drugs/alcohol, mental health and social risks. Approximately 50% (211/421) experienced orphanhood due to COVID-19, 4.8% (20/421) reported living in an HIV-affected household, and 48.2% (203/421) did not know the HIV status of their household. The mean age of the sample was 12.7 years (SD:2.30), of whom 1.2% (5/421) were living with HIV. Eighty percent (337/421) reported at least one HIV risk behaviour. HIV sexual risk behaviours were more common among children living in HIV-affected households compared to those not living in HIV-affected households and those with unknown household status (35.0% vs. 13.6% vs.10.8%, X2 = 9.25, p = 0.01). Children living in HIV-affected households had poorer mental health and elevated substance use (70.0% vs. 48.5%, X2 = 6.21, p = 0.05; 35.0% vs. 19.9%, X2 = 4.02, p = 0.1306, respectively). HIV-affected households may require specific interventions to support the health and well-being of children and adolescents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study aimed to identify possible entry points for interventions that can act as development accelerators for children and adolescents in South Africa and Malawi. Methods: This study was a secondary data analysis. Data were sourced from the Child Community Care longitudinal study which tracked child well‐being outcomes among 989 children (4–13 years) and their caregivers affected by HIV and enrolled in community‐based organizations in South Africa and Malawi. We examined associations between five hypothesized accelerating services/household provisions—measured as access at baseline and follow‐up and 12 child outcomes that relate to indicators within the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) framework. We calculated the adjusted probabilities of experiencing each SDG aligned outcome conditional on receipt of single, combined or all identified accelerators. Results: The results show household food security is associated with positive child education and cognitive development outcomes. Cash grants were positively associated with nutrition and cognitive development outcomes. Living in a safe community was positively associated with all mental health outcomes. Experiencing a combination of two factors was associated with higher probability of positive child outcomes. However, experiencing all three accelerators was associated with better child outcomes, compared with any of the individual factors by themselves with substantial improvements noted in child education outcomes. Conclusions: Combined delivery of specific interventions or services may yield greater improvements in child outcomes across different developmental domains. It is recommended that multiple support avenues in combination like improving food security and safe communities, as well as social protection grants, should be provided for vulnerable children to maximize the impact. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article studies the distribution and diversity of the archael ammonia monooxygenase subunit A (amoA) genes associated with corals. The results prove that such archael genes are commonly found in all the marine ecosystems.

Parental concepts are crucial in understanding family, relationships and psychological functioning of parents. How these evolve and manifest may vary according to family and personal experience. This study of adults who were abandoned as infants explores three perspectives—their concepts of their biological parents who have abandoned them, their concepts of their adoptive parents who have raised them and finally their concepts of themselves as parents on the birth of their own children. Qualitative interviews with 16 adult survivors of infant abandonment were conducted and thematically analysed to explore parenting. The interviews revealed that although some justified and felt forgiveness for their biological mothers, others sustained feelings of anger and resentment. Participants reported a desire for further knowledge regarding their biological mother, with some reporting a desire for a reunion and others highlighting concerns regarding their genetic health. The majority had no views or thoughts on their biological father. Relationships with adoptive parents were mixed—some were supportive and loved yet others were distant and troubled. For most who had children of their own, such births represented the first moment of true biological and genetic continuity and were reported as precious. Others, however, were challenged or avoided parenting altogether. This study is the one of the first steps to understanding the long-term effects of abandoned infants in terms of the parenting they receive and the intergenerational effects on the parenting they provide in turn to the next generation. Such insight should inform parenting preparation for adoptive parents in the case of those abandoned and subsequently adopted as well as support for survivors of infant abandonment when they reach adulthood and become parents themselves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Greater severities of gambling behaviour and poorer mental health have been identified in the literature as risk factors for suicidality within gambling disorder (GD) populations. This is the first known study within the UK to use empirical data, taken from a UK treatment clinic for GD (National Problem Gambling Clinic, UK) to explore the associations between current suicidality (thoughts and plans) and measures assessing gambling severity and mental health. Self-report data from 122 participants were collected during the intake process at the clinic through a variety of methods including the use of questionnaires and a standardized 90-minute interview with a psychologist. Reported suicidality was high (current suicidal thoughts [28.7%] and plans [6.6%]), yet only one measure of gambling severity (estimated total losses) was found to be inversely associated with suicidality. Indices of poorer mental health were found to have a greater association with suicidality than measures of gambling severity, and a logistic regression analysis identified depressive symptomology and a history of psychiatric disorder in the participants’ family as significant factors associated with suicidality. Overall, within GD populations, factors associated with poorer mental health rather than gambling severity are seemingly a greater risk factor in patients with suicidality. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Introduction: Globally, no person has been untouched by the COVID-19 pandemic. Yet, little attention has been given to children and adolescents in policy, provision and services. Moreover, there is a dearth of knowledge regarding the impact of COVID-19-associated orphanhood and caregiver loss on children. This study aims to provide early insights into the mental health and well-being of children and adolescents experiencing orphanhood or caregiver loss in South Africa., Methods and Analysis: Data will be drawn from a quantitative longitudinal study in Cape Town, South Africa. A sample of children and adolescents between the ages of 9 and 18 years, experiencing parental or caregiver loss from COVID-19, will be recruited together with a comparison group of children in similar environments who did not experience loss. The study aims to recruit 500 children in both groups. Mental health and well-being among children will be explored through the use of validated and study-specific measures. Participants will be interviewed at two time points, with follow-up data being collected 12-18 months after baseline. A combination of analytical techniques (including descriptive statistics, regression modelling and structural equation modelling) will be used to understand the experience and inform future policy and service provision., Ethics and Dissemination: This study received ethical approval from the Health Research Ethics Committee at Stellenbosch University (N 22/04/040). Results will be disseminated via academic and policy publications, as well as national and international presentations including high-level meetings with technical experts. Findings will also be disseminated at a community level via various platforms., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2023. Re-use permitted under CC BY. Published by BMJ.)