Nutritional Status of Under-five Children from Urban Low-income Families in Xiangtan and Jilin in China

There have been many studies on the nutrition and the growth status of children from rural and remote western regions of China, whereas researches on children from urban low-income families are scarce. This study aimed to investigate the growth and nutritional status of children under five years of age from urban low-income families in China. There were 169 children aged 25–60 months recruited from Xiangtan and Jilin, two cities with a population of 2.81 million and 4.26 million respectively, in China in this cluster cross-sectional study. Data were collected on demographic and socioeconomic characteristics, the feeding practices and the incidence of anemia and diarrhea. The results showed that the prevalence of low birth weight and macrosomia was 7.1% and 9.5% for the two cities, respectively, which was higher than that for other cities in China（1.5% and 5.9%）. Of all the sampled children, 14.6% and 8.2% suffered anemia and diarrhea, respectively. Multivariate analysis showed that legumes or nuts fed in a 24-h recall increased the risk of anemia（OR=4.9）. Children whose caregivers began to introduce complementary foods relatively late would have high diarrhea prevalence（OR=1.4）. In conclusion, the prevalence of anemia and diarrhea in under-five children from urban low-income families in China is relatively high. The growth and nutritional status of these children is greatly affected by feeding practices. A series of measures should be taken by relevant government departments to improve the health of these children.

Report on Childhood Obesity in China (4) Prevalence and Trends of Overweight and Obesity in Chinese Urban School-age Children and Adolescents, 1985-2000

Objective To describe the nationwide prevalence of childhood overweight/obesity, and their group variations and trends over the past 20 years in the Chinese urban population. Methods Data sets of boys and girls at the age of 7-18 years collected from the series of Chinese national surveillance on students＇ constitution and health （CNSSCH） between 1985 and 2000 were divided into five socioeconomic and demographic groups, while BMI classification reference proposed by Working Group on Obesity in China （WGOC） was used as screening reference to calculate the prevalence and trends of overweight/obesity in these groups. Results In 2000, the prevalence of obesity and overweight in boys aged 7-18 years was 11.3% and 6.5% in Beijing, 13.2% and 4.9% in Shanghai, 9.9% and 4.5% in coastal big cities, and 5.8% and 2.0% in coastal medium/small-sized cities, respectively, while the prevalence of of obesity and overweight in girls of the same age group was 8.2% and 3.7% in Beijing, 7.3% and 2.6% in Shanghai, 5.9% and 2.8% in coastal big cities, and 4.8% and 1.7% in coastal medium/small-sized cities, respectively. The prevalence of obesity was low in most of the inland cities at an early stage of epidemic overweight. The epidemic manifested a gradient distribution in groups, which was closely related to status （SES） of the study population. However, a dramatic and steady increasing trend was witnessed among all sex-age subgroups in the five urban groups, and such a trend was stronger in boys than in girls, and much stronger in children than in adolescents. Conclusion Although China is at an early stage of epidemic obesity by and large, the prevalence of obesity in her urban population, particularly in coastal big cities has reached the average level of developed countries. The increasing trend has been rapid since early 1990s, and the increments in obesity and overweight are exceptionally high. The prospect of epidemic obesity in China is in no way optimistic. Therefore, preventive program should be focused on the improvement of the balance between caloric intake and energy expenditure, and interventions aimed at changing children＇s life styles.

Etiology of Diarrhea among Severely Malnourished Infants and Young Children: Observation of Urban-Rural Differences over One Decade in Bangladesh

There is inadequate information on the etiology of diarrhea in severely malnourished (SM) young children. Thus, the study aimed to determine the etiology of diarrhea among severely malnourished (z score ?3.00 SD) children in rural and urban Bangladesh. From the database (2000-2011) of Diarrheal Disease Surveillance Systems (DDSS) at rural Matlab and urban Dhaka hospitals of icddr,b, 2234 and 3109 under-5 children were found severely malnourished (underweight, stunted or wasted) respectively. Two comparison groups [moderately malnourished (MM) and well-nourished (WN)] were randomly selected in a ratio of 1:1:1. Children with all categories of SM were more likely to be infected with Vibrio cholerae (rural—11%;urban—15%), Shigella (16%;9%), Salmonella (1%;2%) and Campylobacter (3%;4%);and less likely to have rotavirus (25%;20%) compared to only one SM category. Isolation rate of Vibrio cholerae was significantly higher among SM both in rural and urban children (7%;13%) than those of MM (5%;10%) and WN (2%;8%) and lower for rotavirus (30%;31%), (34%;43%), (35%;47%) respectively (p 0.01). However, for Shigella it was only higher among rural SM children (11%) [MM (9%), and WN (8%) (p 0.01)]. The isolation rate of Salmonella in SM (2%) was similar to that in MM (2%;p = 0.72) but significantly higher than that in WN (1%;p 0.01) among urban children. Isolation rates of bacterial enteric pathogens were higher but rotavirus was lower in SM children in both rural and urban area with geographical heterogeneity.

Current Status and Predictors of Diarrhoeal Diseases among Under-Five Children in a Rapidly Growing Urban Setting: The Case of City Administration of Bahir Dar, Northwest Ethiopia

Background: Diarrhoeal disease in under-five children is a serious public health challenge especially in low income countries including Ethiopia. In Ethiopia, several interventions are going on to reduce morbidity, and mortality of children. The objective of the study was to assess the prevalence and associated factors of diarrhoeal diseases among under-five children in the City Administration of Bahir Dar. Methods: A community based cross-sectional study was conducted on a sample size of 667 mothers/caregivers having under-five children. Participants were selected through multistage sampling technique. Structured questionnaire and observation checklist were used to collect data. It was analyzed using SPSS version 16 for windows. Logistic regression was applied to measure possible associations. Strength of association, and statistical significance was measured using odds ratio and confidence interval at 95% confidence level. Results: A total of 667 mothers/ caregivers with under-five children were included in the study. Two-week prevalence of diarrhoea was 21.6%. Households in rural part of the city (OR: 2.82, 95%CI: 1.66 - 4.81), monthly income ≤ birr 500 (OR: 2.27, 95%CI: 1.44 - 3.57, failure to use separate container for storing drinking water (OR: 1.78, 95%CI: 1.17 - 2.70), presence of human excreta in the compound (OR: 1.88, 95% (1.15 - 3.06) were found to be predictors of childhood diarrhoea. Conclusion: Diarrhoeal diseases remain serious public health challenge in rural as well as urban set ups in Ethiopia with particular reference to Bahir Dar City, despite several interventions over decades. Therefore, interventions, and strategies applied so far to eliminate diseases of poverty including diarrhoeal diseases should be re-visited.

Trend of <i>Cryptosporidium</i>Infection among Children below 24 Months in an Informal Urban Settlement, Kenya

Cryptosporidium infection is estimated to cause 2.9 million diarrheal cases yearly among children aged under 24 months in sub-Saharan Africa. Studies have shown long-term climatic variations can affect infectious diseases. The burden of cryptosporidiosis in rural areas of sub-Saharan Africa is well characterized. However, the trend of Cryptosporidium infection is not known, especially in informal urban settings. This study therefore sought to determine cryptosporidiosis trends, and further explore the association between year and Cryptosporidium infection among children below 24 months in Kibera urban informal settlement in Kenya. Data collected by the Kenya Medical Research Institute longitudinal study in Tabitha clinic in Kibera from 2009 to 2015 were used. At least 3000 children aged < 24 months receive free health care at the clinic. In the longitudinal study, children presenting with diarrhea were eligible for stool sample collection (n = 477), out of which 421 stool samples were tested using TaqMan™ Array Card (TAC) polymerase chain reaction panel that included a target for Cryptosporidium genus. Data for the 421 children were included in the analysis. Logistic regression was used to explore the difference between the seven years and cryptosporidiosis. Overall, the pooled data indicated that 23.5% of the children who were tested had Cryptosporidium infection, with the highest proportions of Cryptosporidium-positive cases observed in 2015 (45.2%). The logistic regression results also indicated that children who were tested in the year 2015 were more likely to have Cryptosporidium infection (OR = 3.39;95% CI: 1.44 - 7.96;p = 0.005) than those in 2009. Watery stool was also found to be an important symptom of cryptosporidiosis. There was a high prevalence of Cryptosporidium infection among young children, especially in the most recent year. Routine testing of Cryptosporidium infection using molecular methods, constant monitoring and identification of the infection sources is therefore necessary towards reducing the disease burden in the low resource settings.

A comparative study on the extracurricularreading environment of urban and rural children in Chongqing Reservoir Area

Purpose: So far, there have been few studies that discussed children’s reading environment in China’s poverty-stricken areas, this study aims to explore differences existed in extracurricular reading environment between urban and rural children in Chongqing Reservoir Area with empirical evidence.Design/methodology/approach: Using a questionnaire survey, empirical data was collected from 105 participants. Then proposed hypotheses and the reliability of the observation variables were respectively examined with ANOVA and factor analysis. The statistical analysis software SPSS19.0 was used to analyze the data.Findings: Our results showed that 1) differences did exist in school and social reading environment between urban and rural children in Chongqing Reservoir Area; 2) differences in family reading environment between urban and rural children in Chongqing Reservoir Area were not obviously observed.Research limitations: The empirical data were collected from only one county of Chongqing Reservoir Area, which may have partially affected the generalization of our conclusions. In addition, the response rate of questionnaires was comparatively low due to a relatively limited research period. Practical implications: This study would provide some reference for governments, libraries, schools and families to consider how to jointly narrow the gap in the extracurricular reading circumstance between urban and rural children in Chongqing Reservoir Area.Originality value: This is one of the first studies to explore similarities and differences in extracurricular reading environment between urban and rural children in Chinese povertystricken areas, which will help research communities to gain a deeper understanding of children’s reading environment in Chinese Reservoir Area.

城市义务教育入学门槛与流动人口子女随迁决策——人口流动新形势下的教育资源空间配置优化

在流动人口向城市群集聚的新形势下,城市群承担着创新公共服务均等化提供机制的重要责任。以长三角城市群为样本,基于政策文本研究各城市针对流动人口随迁子女设置的义务教育入学门槛,并定量分析其对流动人口子女随迁决策的影响。研究发现,各城市以材料准入制和积分入学制两种模式设置入学门槛,其高低并没有呈现从核心城市(上海)到中心城市(南京、杭州等)再到其他城市递减的趋势。义务教育入学门槛与子女随迁之间具有显著的负相关关系,高入学门槛城市比低入学门槛城市的流动人口子女随迁几率低55%,且这种关系在低收入流动人口群体中更加明显。为了构建人口流动新形势下的共享型教育体系,应当优化教育资源的空间配置:在理念上探索城市群教育资源统筹配置的思路,在制度上创新突破行政区划的教育公共服务提供机制,在技术上完善以常住人口为基础的义务教育资源规划布局。

新生代农民工举家迁移对教育支出的影响研究

基于中国家庭追踪调查数据和实地调研发现:存在子女随迁现象的新生代农民工家庭均为举家迁移。举家迁移显著增加家庭教育支出,随迁子女数与家庭教育支出显著正相关。家中既有男孩又有女孩的举家迁移家庭教育支出显著增加,家中只有男孩的家庭教育支出显著高于家中只有女孩的家庭。相比中部和东部,西部新生代农民工举家迁移显著增加家庭教育支出。建议积极落实“两为主”“两纳入”“两统一”“同城化”等随迁子女教育政策,切实减轻农民工家庭教育负担;统筹义务教育资源均衡配置,努力缩小教育区域化差异;完善户籍制度和流动人口服务体系,衔接城乡有关社会保障与福利政策,促进农民工随迁家庭整体市民化。

论《皇帝的孩子》中的城市景观与知识分子体验

小说《皇帝的孩子》在书写美国纽约高知分子间纷繁复杂的人际关系,展现文化圈层虚伪与浮华的同时,多次指向城市中典型的非场所意象,表达了精英阶层城市生活的荒诞与体验的虚无。该群体的神秘色彩逐渐被都市光怪陆离的乱象消费殆尽,但其中不乏有觉醒个体在经历恐怖事件后,以游荡者身份反思自我处境并展开返魅之旅。作家意在借助9·11事件刺激知识分子沉思被城市景观包围下现代性生活弊病和精神危机,在游荡中寻找城市的缺口并主动参与景观重建。以核心人物布狄为线索,从城市化表征视角分析城市意象,作品考察了城市中受现代性宰制的知识分子精神陷落问题,深入探索其都市体验,为该形象赋予更深的社会意义。

新时代城市公共社会福利设施规划标准研究——走向全龄友好社会

国家“十四五”规划及2035远景目标纲要提出“增进民生福祉、提升共建共治共享水平”,对我国社会福利设施体系提出了新目标。既有的城市公共社会福利设施体系、设施功能、规划标准等已经无法满足新时代的社会发展需求。基于我国社会福利事业的发展情况,以面向老年人、儿童和残疾人的城市公共社会福利设施为重点研究对象,系统梳理了既有设施体系及存在的主要问题,根据相关设施规划标准在实践中的应用反馈,对新时代国家层面城市公共社会福利设施规划标准的修订提出了总体思路,并从体系完善、级配方式、指标修订、选址要求等方面提出了建议。

隔代教育对城市儿童社会化的不利影响--一项基于Z市某社区田野经验的比较性研究

隔代教育对儿童社会化的不利影响一直是儿童社会化研究的一个重要主题。现有的相关研究多以农村留守儿童为主要研究对象,忽略了隔代教育对城市儿童社会化的不利影响。基于这一背景,文章对Z市某大型社区儿童社会化过程进行长期田野调查研究,通过对比该社区隔代教育、亲子教育两组观察样本中儿童社会化的不同发展趋向,发现隔代教育模式下的城市儿童更易出现语言表达能力发育迟缓,生活自理能力不强,社交活动中的自我意识更弱、攻击性交往行为倾向更明显,不尊重他人、不尊重公共秩序这四种不良社会化倾向。本文认为,祖辈在主导儿童教育过程中所采取的过度溺爱、过度宽容、忽视儿童能力培养的不良教育方式是促使城市儿童上述不良社会倾向形成的主要原因。

儿童友好视角下南京市老旧住区公共空间改造策略研究——以东升沿一村等三个住区为例

文章聚焦城市老旧住区公共空间,选取南京市三个典型的老旧住区进行调研,分析其现状与问题。依据儿童生理和心理需求理论,探讨公共空间改造成儿童友好空间的可能性,进而提出改造策略。

儿童友好公园的实践目标与路径思考

国家“十四五”规划纲要明确提出要全面推动儿童友好理念深入城市建设,城市公园是儿童户外活动最重要的空间载体。然而,国内相关研究起步较晚,儿童友好公园建设普遍面临多重挑战。通过文献研究、实地调研等方法,梳理国内外优秀理论及实践经验,提出儿童友好公园建设目标,从体系构建、场所优化、设施完善、机制丰富、政策保障等维度展开探讨,形成系统的、本土化的儿童友好公园建设实践路径,为中国儿童友好空间建设的全面推进提供重要支持。

城市地区学前儿童家庭教育的社区支持现状与影响因素研究——以武汉市为例

社区的合理支持对提高学前儿童家庭的家庭教育质量具有重要意义。本研究选取武汉市0~6岁儿童家长与一线社区工作者为研究对象,通过问卷与访谈了解当今城市地区学前儿童家庭教育社区支持的现状与影响因素,并针对此提出可行的优化建议。本研究发现,当前社区在支持学前儿童家庭教育方面存在硬件设施支持较好,但教育学习指导不足的问题。受不同因素的影响,社区提供的支持服务质量与学前儿童家长接受的支持服务质量存在差异,主要表现为中心城区社区或新型社区能在特定领域提供更高质量的支持服务、大龄幼儿家庭或高SES家庭能在多个领域获得更高质量的支持服务,以及季节性疾病流行期间社区支持服务的质量有所不同等。针对以上现象,本研究从多方力量相助、社区资源共享与线上资源开发三个角度提出了改进建议。

中国城乡幼儿体质健康状况研究进展

我国幼儿整体体质健康状况虽有所改善,但城乡区域差异仍然明显,主要体现在幼儿饮食营养、作息睡眠和体力活动3个方面。基于Bronfenbrenner的生态系统理论,本文从微观、中观和宏观视域,对我国城乡幼儿体质健康发展的影响因素及干预策略等相关研究进行了综述,以期为如何促进幼儿体质健康水平的提高,缩小城乡幼儿体质健康差异等方面的研究工作提供新的方向与思考。

城乡孤独症儿童家庭困境差异与纾解策略——基于浙江省87例孤独症儿童家庭的调研

从社会支持理论视角出发,结合定量研究与质性研究,以浙江省87例孤独症儿童家庭为研究对象,同时对康复机构教师、医疗机构专业人士、社区工作人员、普通民众以及残联等政府部门相关人员进行问卷调查与深度访谈。调查发现:在经济压力、孤独症儿童受教育率、信息资讯渠道、社会接纳度、专业技术支持、职业技能培训需求上,城镇和农村孤独症儿童家庭表现出了差异性。针对差异现状与需求,提出精准化差异支持策略:第一,增加农村家庭的经济支持;第二,提高农村孤独症儿童的受教育率;第三,拓宽农村信息支持渠道;第四,加大城镇家庭社区方面的服务支持和情感支持;第五,多形式开展城镇家庭康复技术培训;第六,增加城镇家庭职业技能培训和就业机会供给。

农村留守儿童看护与教育高质量发展路径、方法及政策研究

农村留守儿童是伴随我国工业化、城镇化进程涌现的一类特殊群体,其教育发展空间有限,教育状况不容乐观,农村留守儿童的学习、心理健康、道德品质等方面存在的问题日益凸显,已成为社会治理的痛点,亟须解决。文章围绕农村留守儿童教育相关议题,分析了农村留守儿童教育质量提升的意义以及现阶段农村留守儿童面临的现实困境,并提出相应的政策建议,以确保农村留守儿童的健康成长,为进一步促进农村留守儿童看护与教育高质量发展提供理论参考。

绍兴市人口生育率现状及对策研究

生育率是反映妇女生育强度的重要指标,它是影响人口增长速度的核心因素,同时也是制定人口计划和进行人口预测的重要指标。从绍兴人口发展形势较为严峻的实际出发,旨在厘清当前绍兴市人口出生数及自然增长率持续降低、总和生育率下降明显、生育二孩及三孩比例不高等主要原因,并分析持续低生育率带来的对城市后续发展支撑不足、产业结构优化调整不利、养老负担日益突出等不利影响,针对性地提出倡导新型婚育观、转变年轻一代“不想生育”观念,切实降低婚育成本、消除育龄家庭“不敢生育”顾虑,打造宜居宜业环境、提高年轻人留绍归属感等对策建议,为提升绍兴人口生育率,发挥人口对绍兴经济社会发展的动能作用贡献力量。

Childhood Obesity in Primary School Children of Middle and Upper-Middle Income Group in the Capital City of Bangladesh

Background: No published information is available on the status of childhood obesity in Bangladeshi primary school children of urban middle and upper-middle income group. The aim of the study was to explore the proportion of childhood obesity in the primary school children of middle and upper-middle income group in capital city and to gather information on their dietary pattern and physical activity. Methods: One hundred and fifty children (age 9 ± 1 years, height (ht) 118 ± 20 cm, weight (wt) 36 ± 8 kg, wt/ht% 126 ± 24, mean ± SD) were selected purposively from the primary schools of Dhaka city. On the basis of predefined scoring, subjects were classified as underweight, normal, overweight and obese if their weight-for-height values were 120% of median values for Bangladeshi children respectively. Dietary intake and energy expenditure of the study subjects were calculated by standard techniques. Results: The proportion of childhood overweight and obesity was 52% and 20%. The proportion of overweight and obesity was higher (78%) among girls compared to boys (54%). Similarly, height, weight and other anthropometrics indices were significantly (p < 0.05) higher in girls compared to boys. The daily intake of carbohydrate and protein was significantly (p < 0.05) higher among obese group. Total energy balance was significantly correlated with weight-for-height% (r = 0.541, p = 0.0001). Conclusions: A higher proportion of overweight and obesity had been found in girls’ children than their counter parts in this study. Positive energy balance with higher energy intake from carbohydrate and fast/processed food culture habit were found among primary school children of middle and upper-middle income group in the capital city of Bangladesh.