Association of preschool children behavior and emotional problems with the parenting behavior of both parents

BACKGROUND Parental behaviors are key in shaping children’s psychological and behavioral development,crucial for early identification and prevention of mental health issues,reducing psychological trauma in childhood.AIM To investigate the relationship between parenting behaviors and behavioral and emotional issues in preschool children.METHODS From October 2017 to May 2018,7 kindergartens in Ma’anshan City were selected to conduct a parent self-filled questionnaire-Health Development Survey of Preschool Children.Children’s Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire(Parent Version)was applied to measures the children’s behavioral and emotional performance.Parenting behavior was evaluated using the Parental Behavior Inventory.Binomial logistic regression model was used to analyze the association between the detection rate of preschool children’s behavior and emotional problems and their parenting behaviors.RESULTS High level of parental support/participation was negatively correlated with conduct problems,abnormal hyperactivity,abnormal total difficulty scores and abnormal prosocial behavior problems.High level of maternal support/participation was negatively correlated with abnormal emotional symptoms and abnormal peer interaction in children.High level of parental hostility/coercion was positively correlated with abnormal emotional symptoms,abnormal conduct problems,abnormal hyperactivity,abnormal peer interaction,and abnormal total difficulty scores in children(all P<0.05).Moreover,paternal parenting behaviors had similarly effects on behavior and emotional problems of preschool children compared with maternal parenting behaviors(all P>0.05),after calculating ratio of odds ratio values.CONCLUSION Our study found that parenting behaviors are associated with behavioral and emotional issues in preschool children.Overall,the more supportive or involved the parents are,the fewer behavioral and emotional problems the children experience;conversely,the more hostile or controlling the parents are,the more behavioral and emotional problems the children face.Moreover,the impact of fathers’parenting behaviors on preschool children’s behavior and emotions is no less significant than that of mothers’parenting behaviors.

The Effects of Different Feeding Practices on the Nutritional Status of Infants below 12 Months Old in the Kumba 1 Sub-Division

Appropriate feeding practices are important during infancy for good health, growth and development of infants and children. WHO revised its earlier recommendation of Exclusive Breastfeeding (EBF) of infants from 4 to 6 months of age to EBF until about 6 months of age, with the addition of complementary foods thereafter. This recommendation confirms that breast milk alone is sufficient to meet infants’ nutritional requirements for the first 6 months of life. The main objective of this study was to investigate the effect of various feeding practices on the Nutritional status of infants 0 - 12-month-old in the Kumba 1 Sub-Division. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted from December 2019 to August 2020. A total of 341 nursing mothers and their infants 0 - 12 months of age were recruited. Socio-demographic factors and the different feeding habits of the children were assessed using a semi-structured questionnaire. Nutritional status was assessed using anthropometric measurements. The overall proportion of infants who exclusively breastfed for 6 months was 69.2% and those who were mix-fed were 30.8% in the study area. The overall prevalence of malnutrition in the population was 61.0%. Among the malnourished children, 53.1% were underweight, 19.6% were wasted and 10.0% were stunted. Though not significant, the prevalence of wasting (21.0%) and underweight (58.3%) was higher among Mix-Fed (MF) children when compared to their EBF counterparts. Feeding practices affected the nutritional status of the infants. Underweight and wasting were observed among infants on Complementary Feeding (CF), although some exclusively breast-fed infants were stunted. Hence, nursing mothers should try as much as possible to practice EBF as recommended by WHO and can practice CF when the child is above six months.

The Development of a Feeding Coparenting Scale for Japanese Parents of Fifth- and Sixth-Grade Elementary School Children

Aim: Recently, the role of feeding coparenting has gained attention in the child eating research field. The Feeding Coparenting Scale (FCS), a measure of how caregivers interact with their partners when feeding their children was developed in the United States in 2019. However, there is no valid and reliable measure to assess feeding coparenting among caregivers of school-aged children in Japan. Therefore, this study aimed to develop a Japanese version of the FCS (FCS-J) questionnaire for caregivers with school-aged children. Methods: This was a web-based cross-sectional survey completed by caregivers of children aged 10-12 years. A preliminary survey using interviews and a web-based survey was conducted and found that the translated items of the FCS into Japanese were understandable to Japanese people. The developed survey was administered to parents of children at an elementary school. The reliability of the survey was assessed using both test-retest reliability and internal consistency analysis. Exploratory factor analysis was used to test construct validity, and known population validity was examined in relation to attributes, marital satisfaction, and feeding tasks. Results: Findings with 135 parents of school-aged children showed good internal reliability and validity of the FCS-J. The mean score for the overall FCS-J score was 46.2 (SD = 6.2), with Cronbach’s α of 0.72. For the subscales, Cronbach’s α ranged from 0.75 to 0.79. In sum, the present study’s results support the three-factor structure of the FCS in Japanese caregivers in Japan. Conclusions: The developed FCS-J was found to have a certain degree of reliability and validity. In this study, a Japanese version of the FCS-J was developed. .

Expérience des parents faceàl’accompagnement pédiatrique en HAD:étude exploratoire qualitative Parents’Experience of Pediatric Home Care:A Qualitative Exploratory Study

Aim:To investigate parents’experience of home care for children in oncology in order to identify the benefits,expectations,and possible difficulties associated.Material and methods:A qualitative method was adopted,with non-directive interviews conducted with nine participants,then analyzed using thematic content analysis.Results:The main recurring themes in the discourse include:(1)relief,(2)positive representation of home,(3)positive representation of home care,and(4)negative representation of home care.For these parents,home care appears to be positive overall,even though the introduction of home care is often reported as a source of stress for them.Conclusion:These results must be interpreted with caution,but they do support previous research and highlight certain recommendations for further improving this experience,particularly for parents,but also for the sick child and the family.

Changes of the peripapillary vascular parameters inpremature infants without retinopathy of prematurityusing U-net segmentation

AIM:To quantitatively assess the changes in mean vascular tortuosity(mVT)and mean vascular width(mVW)around the optic disc and their correlation with gestational age(GA)and birth weight(BW)in premature infants without retinopathy of prematurity(ROP).METHODS:A single-center retrospective study included a total of 133(133 eyes)premature infants[mean corrected gestational age(CGA)43.6wk]without ROP as the premature group and 130(130 eyes)CGA-matched fullterm infants as the control group.The peripapillary mVT and mVW were quantitatively measured using computerassisted techniques.RESULTS:Premature infants had significantly higher mVT(P=0.0032)and lower mVW(P=0.0086)by 2.68(10^(4) cm^(-3))and 1.85μm,respectively.Subgroup analysis with GA showed significant differences(P=0.0244)in mVT between the early preterm and middle to late preterm groups,but the differences between mVW were not significant(P=0.6652).The results of the multiple linear regression model showed a significant negative correlation between GA and BW with mVT after adjusting sex and CGA(P=0.0211 and P=0.0006,respectively).For each day increase in GA at birth,mVT decreased by 0.1281(10^(4) cm^(-3))and for each 1 g increase in BW,mVT decreased by 0.006(10^(4) cm^(-3)).However,GA(P=0.9402)and BW(P=0.7275)were not significantly correlated with mVW.CONCLUSION:Preterm birth significantly affects the peripapillary vascular parameters that indicate higher mVT and narrower mVW in premature infants without ROP.Alterations in these parameters may provide new insights into the pathogenesis of ocular vascular disease.

Button Cell Ingestion in Infants: A Report of Five Cases

Button cell ingestion is a common household accident among infants, often leading to serious complications that require immediate diagnosis and urgent removal. We report five cases of button cell ingestion involving infants aged between 9 and 32 months, including four boys and one girl. The ingestion was accidentally discovered in two infants, while in the other three, it was suspected during play. In three cases, mothers attempted to induce vomiting by giving fluids, but the batteries remained in the digestive tract for 38 hours to 5 days. After confirming the diagnosis, the batteries were removed within 4 to 36 hours. The locations of the cells were the esophagus in two cases, the cardia in one, the stomach in one, and the bowel in one. One case involved a large cell in the esophagus, while the others involved smaller cells. Complications occurred in four cases, including esotracheal fistula, esophageal ulceration, and perforation of the jejunum and caecum. In one case, the digestive mucosa appeared normal upon endoscopy. One patient died.

Influence of perinatal factors on full-term low-birth-weight infants and construction of a predictive model

BACKGROUND Being too light at birth can increase the risk of various diseases during infancy.AIM To explore the effect of perinatal factors on term low-birth-weight(LBW)infants and build a predictive model.This model aims to guide the clinical management of pregnant women’s healthcare during pregnancy and support the healthy growth of newborns.METHODS A retrospective analysis was conducted on data from 1794 single full-term pregnant women who gave birth.Newborns were grouped based on birth weight:Those with birth weight<2.5 kg were classified as the low-weight group,and those with birth weight between 2.5 kg and 4 kg were included in the normal group.Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to identify the factors influencing the occurrence of full-term LBW.A risk prediction model was established based on the analysis results.The effectiveness of the model was analyzed using the Hosmer–Leme show test and receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve to verify the accuracy of the predictions.RESULTS Among the 1794 pregnant women,there were 62 cases of neonatal weight<2.5 kg,resulting in an LBW incidence rate of 3.46%.The factors influencing full-term LBW included low maternal education level[odds ratio(OR)=1.416],fewer prenatal examinations(OR=2.907),insufficient weight gain during pregnancy(OR=3.695),irregular calcium supplementation during pregnancy(OR=1.756),and pregnancy hypertension syndrome(OR=2.192).The prediction model equation was obtained as follows:Logit(P)=0.348×maternal education level+1.067×number of prenatal examinations+1.307×insufficient weight gain during pregnancy+0.563×irregular calcium supplementation during pregnancy+0.785×pregnancy hypertension syndrome−29.164.The area under the ROC curve for this model was 0.853,with a sensitivity of 0.852 and a specificity of 0.821.The Hosmer–Leme show test yieldedχ^(2)=2.185,P=0.449,indicating a good fit.The overall accuracy of the clinical validation model was 81.67%.CONCLUSION The occurrence of full-term LBW is related to maternal education,the number of prenatal examinations,weight gain during pregnancy,calcium supplementation during pregnancy,and pregnancy-induced hypertension.The constructed predictive model can effectively predict the risk of full-term LBW.

Management of Acute Idiopthic Intestinal Invaginal in Infants at Conakry University Hospital

Introduction: Acute intestinal intussusception (AII) has been known for a long time but its diagnosis sometimes remains difficult and its etiologies, particularly the idiopathic forms, poorly elucidated. The objective of this study was to describe the clinical and therapeutic aspects of acute intestinal intussusception in order to contribute to the improvement of the management of this condition in the pediatric surgery department of the Donka National Hospital. Materials and Methods: This is a retrospective descriptive study of patients taken in charge of acute idiopathic intestinal intussusception over a period of 7 years (January 2017 to December 31, 2023). Results: We collected 72 patients operated on for IIA, i.e. a hospital frequency of 1.1% and an incidence of 10.3 cases per year. The mean age was 16.58 months with extremes of 3 months and 28 months. The sex ratio was 12.5 in favor of the boy. The triad of ombredanne dominated the clinical picture and paroxysmal abdominal pain with period of calm represented the main reason for consultation (72 cases) i.e. 100%, followed by vomiting (62 cases) and rectal bleeding (50 cases). Ultrasound was performed in 56 patients visualizing the intussusception sausage in 54 patients or 75%. The most common anatomoclinical variety of intussusception was the ileo-caeco-colic form with 35 cases (or 38%) followed by the ileocolic form 24 cases (33%). The surgical procedure performed was a manual reduction in 54 patients or 75% and an anastomosis resection in 18 patients;the appendectomy of principle was done in 62.25%. The postoperative course was simple in 64 patients or 88.88%. The mortality rate was 6.94 %. Conclusion: AII is a common abdominal surgical emergency in infants. Recognition of the Ombredanne triad especially abdominal pain with a period of calm in children and infants in particular is an important element for vital prognosis. Early diagnosis and close interdisciplinary cooperation between pediatric, radiology and pediatric surgery teams could improve the management of IIA and allow this condition to remain benign in children.

Main focus of parents of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and the effectiveness of early clinical screening

BACKGROUND Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder(ADHD)is a common mental and behavioral disorder among children.AIM To explore the focus of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder parents and the effectiveness of early clinical screening METHODS This study found that the main directions of parents seeking medical help were short attention time for children under 7 years old(16.6%)and poor academic performance for children over 7 years old(12.1%).We employed a two-stage experiment to diagnose ADHD.Among the 5683 children evaluated from 2018 to 2021,360 met the DSM-5 criteria.Those diagnosed with ADHD underwent assessments for letter,number,and figure attention.Following the exclusion of ADHD-H diagnoses,the detection rate rose to 96.0%,with 310 out of 323 cases identified.RESULTS This study yielded insights into the primary concerns of parents regarding their children's symptoms and validated the efficacy of a straightforward diagnostic test,offering valuable guidance for directing ADHD treatment,facilitating early detection,and enabling timely intervention.Our research delved into the predominant worries of parents across various age groups.Furthermore,we showcased the precision of the simple exclusion experiment in discerning between ADHD-I and ADHD-C in children.CONCLUSION Our study will help diagnose and guide future treatment directions for ADHD.

Knowledge and practice skills on home-based urinary catheter care among parents of under-five children with urinary catheter

Objectives:The objectives of this study were to assess the knowledge and practice skills on home-based urinary catheter care among parents of under-five children with urinary catheter.Materials and Methods:This cross-sectional study was conducted from June 1,2021,to September 11,2021,in a tertiary hospital in north India.Purposive sampling was used to select 50 participants.Three instruments were employed for data collection after fulfilling sample criteria;for baseline information demographic tool,knowledge questionnaires,and a practice checklist.Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics.Results:On assessment of 50 participants,the majority of parents aged above 30 years(74%).Most of the participants were male(82%),graduated(38%),and working in the private sector(58%).Similarly,two-thirds of participants were residing in a nuclear family(64%)with a single child 32(64%)and family income<5000 rupees per month(60%).The mean score of knowledge was 1.94±0.81 and that of practice skills was 1.98±0.85 on home-based care.Regression analysis showed that knowledge of parents was significantly associated with qualification(β:1.821,P=0.002).Similarly,association of practice skills of parents with gender(β:1.235,P=0.050)and qualification(β:1.889,P=0.00)was significant.Conclusion:The general findings of our study showed that parents’education and occupation played a significant role in a child’s care.Parental education and catheter care skills positively affect the child and reduce readmission rates.

Immunoprophylaxis failure and vaccine response in infants born to mothers with chronic hepatitis B infection in Djibouti

BACKGROUND In endemic areas,vertical transmission of hepatitis B virus(HBV)remains a major source of the global reservoir of infected people.Eliminating mother-to-child transmission(MTCT)of HBV is at the heart of World Health Organization’s goal of reducing the incidence of HBV in children to less than 0.1%by 2030.Universal screening for hepatitis B during pregnancy and neonatal vaccination are the main preventive measures.AIM To evaluate the efficacy of HBV vaccination combined with one dose of immunoglobulin in children born to hepatitis B surface antigen(HBsAg)-positive mothers in Djibouti city.METHODS We conducted a study in a prospective cohort of HBsAg-positive pregnant women and their infants.The study ran from January 2021 to May 2022,and infants were followed up to 7 mo of age.HBV serological markers and viral load in pregnant women were measured using aVidas microparticle enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(Biomérieux,Paris,France)and the automated Amplix platform(Biosynex,Strasbourg,France).All infants received hepatitis B immunoglobulin and were vaccinated against HBV at birth.These infants were closely monitored to assess their seroprotective response and for failure of immunoprophylaxis.Simple logistic regression was also used to identify risk factors associated with immunoprophylaxis failure and poor vaccine response.All statistical analyses were performed with version 4.0.1 of the R software.RESULTS Of the 50 pregnant women recruited,the median age was 31 years,ranging from 18 years to 41 years.The MTCT rate in this cohort was 4%(2/50)in HBsAg-positive women and 67%(2/3)in hepatitis B e antigen-positive women with a viral load>200000 IU/mL.Of the 48 infants who did not fail immunoprophylaxis,8(16%)became poor responders(anti-HB<100 mIU/mL)after HBV vaccination and hepatitis B immunoglobulin,while 40(84%)infants achieved a good level of seroprotection(anti-HB>100 mIU/mL).Factors associated with this failure of immunoprophylaxis were maternal HBV DNA levels(>200000 IU/mL)and hepatitis B e antigen-positive status(odds ratio=158,95%confidence interval:5.05-4958,P<0.01).Birth weight<2500 g was associated with a poor immune response to vaccination(odds ratio=34,95%confidence interval:3.01-383.86,P<0.01).CONCLUSION Despite a failure rate of immunoprophylaxis higher than the World Health Organization target,this study showed that the combination of immunoglobulin and HBV vaccine was effective in preventing MTCT of HBV.Therefore,further studies are needed to better understand the challenges associated with immunoprophylaxis failure in infants in Djibouti city.

Gut microbiota in preterm infants receiving breast milk or mixed feeding

BACKGROUND Preterm birth is the leading cause of mortality in newborns,with very-low-birthweight infants usually experiencing several complications.Breast milk is considered the gold standard of nutrition,especially for preterm infants with delayed gut colonization,because it contains beneficial microorganisms,such as Lactobacilli and Bifidobacteria.AIM To analyze the gut microbiota of breastfed preterm infants with a birth weight of 1500 g or less.METHODS An observational study was performed on preterm infants with up to 36.6 wk of gestation and a birth weight of 1500 g or less,born at the University Hospital Dr.JoséEleuterio González at Monterrey,Mexico.A total of 40 preterm neonates were classified into breast milk feeding(BM)and mixed feeding(MF)groups(21 in the BM group and 19 in the MF group),from October 2017 to June 2019.Fecal samples were collected before they were introduced to any feeding type.After full enteral feeding was achieved,the composition of the gut microbiota was analyzed using 16S rRNA gene sequencing.Numerical variables were compared using Student’s t-test or using the Mann–Whitney U test for nonparametric variables.Dominance,evenness,equitability,Margalef’s index,Fisher’s alpha,Chao-1 index,and Shannon’s diversity index were also calculated.RESULTS No significant differences were observed at the genus level between the groups.Class comparison indicated higher counts of Alphaproteobacteria and Betaproteobacteria in the initial compared to the final sample of the BM group(P<0.011).In addition,higher counts of Gammaproteobacteria were detected in the final than in the initial sample(P=0.040).According to the Margalef index,Fisher’s alpha,and Chao-1 index,a decrease in species richness from the initial to the final sample,regardless of the feeding type,was observed(P<0.050).The four predominant phyla were Bacteroidetes,Actinobacteria,Firmicutes,and Proteobacteria,with Proteobacteria being the most abundant.However,no significant differences were observed between the initial and final samples at the phylum level.CONCLUSION Breastfeeding is associated with a decrease in Alphaproteobacteria and Betaproteobacteria and an increase of Gammaproteobacteria,contributing to the literature of the gut microbiota structure of very low-birth-weight,preterm.

Study on the Effect of Early Oral Motor Intervention in Preterm Infants in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

Objective:To study the effective value of introducing the concept of early oral exercise in the process of nursing intervention for preterm infants in the neonatal intensive care unit(NICU).Methods:96 cases of preterm infants diagnosed from January 2022 to August 2022 were selected and randomly divided into two groups:the general practice group(general nursing intervention),and the early practice group(early oral exercise intervention),and the effect of intervention on preterm infants in the two groups was observed.Results:After nursing care,the mean value of the non-nutritive sucking ability assessment(76.54±5.82),the mean value of the intellectual development degree assessment(104.57±8.45),the mean value of the psychomotor development degree assessment(102.33±6.74),and the mean value of behavioral neural reflexes ability assessment(38.71±2.40)in the early practice group were better than that as compared to the general practice group(P<0.05);the mean value of oral feeding start time of preterm infants in the early practice group(35.42±7.63)weeks,the mean value of all oral feeding time(34.12±5.28)weeks,and the mean time of hospital intervention(15.33±4.25)days were lesser than compared to those of the general practice group at 37.4±5.82 weeks,37.46±3.55 weeks,and 20.46±2.91 days,respectively(P<0.05);the rate of adverse reactions in preterm infants in the early practice group significantly lower than that of the general practice group(P<0.05).Conclusion:The introduction of the concept of early oral exercise intervention among NICU nurses improved the feeding effect,sucking ability of preterm infants,and intellectual development.Hence,early oral motor care should be popularized.

Entangled relationship:Chinese parents’involvement in young learners’English tests

Young learners’English(YLE)tests have become increasingly prevalent among and important to Chinese English learners and their parents.In China,parents are actively involved in their children’s education and test-taking decisions,and their participation has given rise to a series of social impacts.Although parent involvement has received increasing public and academic attention in newspaper and scholarly articles,there exists no thorough analysis of current research on parents’roles in young learners’test-taking.To address this gap,we systemically analyzed Chinese newspaper articles and academic articles between 2011 and 2021 to elicit Chinese parents’roles in YLE test-taking.Our thematic analysis of the literature identifies the ways in which parents influence their children’s test-taking experiences,and how the tests affect this influence.Specifically,our results elicit 1)parents’engagement in YLE testing;2)parents’understanding of the intended uses of YLE tests;3)parents’perception and consequences of their involvement in YLE testing;and 4)parents’backgrounds.This analysis reveals the popularity of YLE tests among young learners and their parents in China and public concern over test-related issues.It also broadens our understanding of YLE testing impact and suggests future potential research directions.

Reliability and validity of the Chinese version of the Readiness for Hospital Discharge Scale-Parent Form in parents of preterm infants

Background: The Readiness for Hospital Discharge Scale (RHDS)-Parent Form shows satisfactory reli-ability and validity to assess the readiness of parents to take care of their children discharged from hospitals in Western countries. However, the reliability and validity of this instrument has not been evaluated in Chinese populations.Objectives: Evaluate the psychometric features of the RHDS-Parent Form among Chinese parents of preterm infants. Methods: The RHDS-Parent Form was translated into a Chinese version following an international in-strument translation guideline. A total of 168 parents with preterm infants were recruited from the neonatal intensive care units of two tertiary-level hospitals in China. The internal consistency of this measure was assessed using the Cronbach's a coefficient;confirmatory factor analysis was conducted to evaluate the construct validity;and Pearson correlation coefficient was used to report the convergent validity. Results: The Chinese version of RHDS (C-RHDS)-Parent Form included 22 items with 4 subscales, ac-counting for 56.71% of the total variance. The C-RHDS-Parent Form and its subscales showed good reliability (Cronbach's a values 0.78-0.92). This measure and its subscales showed positive correlations with the score of Quality of Discharge Teaching Scale. Conclusion: The factor structure of C-RHDS-Parent Form is partially consistent with the original English version. Future studies are needed to explore the factors within this measure before it is widely used in Chinese clinical care settings.

The Agreement Rate about Unintended Pregnancy and Its Relationship with Postpartum Depression in Parents of Preterm and Term Infants

Introduction: Postpartum depression (PPD) affects women’s health and self-confidence, and infant’s social, emotional, cognitive and even physical development. Studies show that parents of preterm infants frequently experience symptoms of depression and anxiety. Women with unintended pregnancy are subjected to more risk of depression than women with planned pregnancy. Unintended pregnancy may lead to increased maternal exposure to psychosocial stressors, reduced social support by the spouse, increased levels of depressive symptoms and decreased life satisfaction. Findings: No significant difference was observed between term and preterm infants’ mothers (p = 0.85) in terms of postpartum depression. However, two groups of fathers in terms of depression showed a significant difference (p = 0.045). McNemar’s test showed that parents of term infants (K = 0.322, p = 0.077), and parents of preterm infants (k = 0.17, p = 0.144) agreed with each other on unintended pregnancy. Conclusion: Fathers of preterm infants are at higher risk for mental disorders than fathers of term infants and they need more attention in future studies.

To Prevent and Handle Positional Deformational Skull Asymmetry in Infants<br/>—A Survey on Child Health Care Nurses and Parents’ Perception of the Given Information

Background: Infants with developmental skull asymmetry referred to the physiotherapist have increased since 1990. At the physiotherapy clinic the parents often claim that they did not get enough or unclear information from the Health Care Centre. Aim: To investigate where a possible gap between parents and nurses comprehension is, and also to give proposals how to achieve more effective information. Method: A survey with quantitative approach, questionnaires were distributed to nurses and parents. Results: 84% of the nurses totally agreed that they inform all parents about preventative intervention. 98% of the nurses totally agreed that they inform about tummy time and 85% stated that they inform about the variation of head position. There were significant differences between nurses and parents’ perception regarding optimal time of receiving information, parents estimated that it was provided late. Only 19% of the nurses totally agreed that the routines were good enough. Conclusion: This study indicates that nurses inform but the parents do not always comprehend the information or understand the importance. Only a fifth of the nurses totally agreed that the routines are good enough, this indicates that better routines are needed. The nurses found it easier to give preventative information than giving information when a skull asymmetry had developed.

Evaluation of Parents’ Awareness and Knowledge about Problems and Issues Related to Their Premature Infants in an Iranian Hospital

Premature infant is an infant who was born before the end of 37th weeks of pregnancy. Approximately 9.6% of infants are premature and they can be at risk for hospitalization. This study has done for evaluation of awareness and knowledge of parents about problems of premature infants in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). This was a descriptive study with 160 parents whose premature infants were admitted to NICU (Tehran-Iran, 2009-2011). Data were collected by a questionnaire for evaluation of awareness and knowledge of parents about problems of prematurity, and then analyzed by using descriptive analytic statistical methods and SPSS software. Based on the results, there was a significant relation between age and the total score of questionnaire (P = 0.022, R = 0.18). Mothers had higher awareness and knowledge than fathers (P < 0.05). The most awareness in parents was about doing of hygienic principle when they entered to NICU and about the importance of regularly and continuous attendance in ward. Awareness and knowledge of parents about problems of their premature infant were related to their age and being a mother or father. Parents had little knowledge about some NICU principles and premature infant’s needs and care.

Parents’ Perceptions and Judgment Formation Process of Their Infants’ Quality of Life

Purpose: We explored parents’ perceptions and judgment formation processes concerning their infants’ health-related quality of life (HRQOL). Method: The PedsQLTM Infant Scales—an instrument specifically designed for infants aged 1 - 24 months—were translated into Japanese. Forward and backward translations were performed, evaluating the semantic and conceptual equivalencies. Parents with infants younger than two-years-old were recruited and interviewed using think-aloud and probing techniques. Participants completed the questionnaire while speaking aloud about what came to their mind, what they thought each question meant, and how they reached each answer. Results: Seven mothers and three fathers participated. The median age was 33.4 (28 - 43) years. Four had infants younger than six-months-old. All infants were healthy. Parents’ perceptions of their infants’ HRQOL varied across their ages. Some parents with infants younger than six months experienced difficulty discussing “emotional functioning” and “cognitive functioning” because their infants were too young to articulate the actions mentioned in the items. In those cases, the parents responded, “never a problem”. Seventy-five percent of parents recalled their infants’ daily “physical functioning”, while only 58% recalled “physical symptoms”. Some parents’ perceptions and judgment formation were compromised by their own perceptions. For example, they answered “often a problem” when the items were problematic to themselves instead of to their child. However, many distinguished their infants’ HRQOL from their own perceptions, indicating they understood the intention of the questionnaire. Conclusion: Parents’ formed judgement may compromise by their own perceptions. The result of this study will be helpful in improving healthcare communication and interpreting parents’ judgments of their infants’ HRQOL in future studies.

Clinical analysis of 114 cases of bronchiolitis in infants

BACKGROUND Bronchiolitis is a common lower respiratory tract infection in infants and young children.Severe cases may be accompanied by obvious dyspnea and oxygen saturation decline.AIM To summarize the clinical features,standard diagnosis,and treatment of bronchi-olitis.METHODS This is a retrospective analysis of 114 pediatric patients(74 males,40 females)who were first diagnosed as having bronchioles at the Department of Pediatrics of Tongling Maternal and Child Health Hospital from January 2019 to December 2019.The clinical features,imaging features,treatment,and other clinical data were recorded and analyzed.RESULTS The age of onset of the disease was mainly from 1 mo to 6 mo(75.4%),and the time to hospital visit was mostly from the 2nd day to the 4th day of the course of the disease(75.4%).Lung imaging examination showed increase in lung texture,fuzzy(93.8%).The main treatment was atomization therapy:Budesonide combined with terbutaline(45.6%)and budesonide combined with salbutamol(38.5%).The average hospitalization time was 7.1±2.4 d,and the overall cure rate was 94.7%.In patients without bacterial infection,the use of antibiotics significantly prolonged the length of hospital stay(7.8±2.5 d vs 5.7±1.8 d)and improved the cure rate(98.3%vs 87.9%,P<0.05).CONCLUSION Infants with bronchiolitis are mainly male and tend to have a good prognosis.However,the unneeded use of antibiotics may prolong the length of hospital stay significantly,which imposes the burden both on the patients and hospital system.CONCLUSION Bronchiolitis is a common acute respiratory infectious disease in infants and young children.It mainly affects male children and the age onset is between 1 to 6 mo.The standard use of antibiotics should be emphasized in view of the prolonged average length of hospital stay between the antibiotic treatment group and the non-antibiotic treatment group.When the course of disease is more than 7 d or the treatment effect is poor,active anti-infective treatment is needed to improve the long-term prognosis.Very few children have recurrent cough and wheezing symptoms within 1 year,which may be related to the risk of later asthma attack.FOOTNOTES Author contributions:Shi C and Wu MH contributed to study conception and design,and provision of study materials or patients;Shi C contributed to administrative support;Zuo A,Yang MM,and Jiang RR contributed to data collection and assembly;Shi C contributed to data analysis and interpretation,and manuscript writing;all authors contributed to the final approval of the manuscript.Institutional review board statement:The study was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki(as revised in 2013).The study was approved by Institutional Review Board of Tongling Maternal and Child Health Hospital.