Evaluation of Dietary Diversity, Nutrient Adequacy and Nutritional Status of Pre-school Children in Three Local Government Areas of Ibadan, Nigeria

Malnutrition remains a public health challenge in Nigeria, partly due to poor diversity of diets. Pre-school children are among the vulnerable groups who are mostly affected in communities, as their nutritional status is largely influenced by the quality of diets they consume. Most studies aimed at malnutrition among under-five children have been focused on meeting protein-energy needs without much consideration for micronutrients needs. Dietary diversity has been advocated as a means of meeting nutritional requirements of children. This study was designed to assess the dietary diversity in relation to nutrient adequacy and nutritional status of pre-school children in Ibadan. The descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out among 552 pre-schoolers aged 3-5 years in Egbeda, Ona-Ara and Ido Three Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Ibadan metropolis. A structured questionnaire was used to obtain information on socio-demographic characteristics of mother and child. Nutritional status was determined using anthropometric indices. Food frequency questionnaire of 9 food groups was used to obtain dietary diversity scores (DDS) classified as low (< 4 food groups), average (4 to 6 food groups), and high (≥ 7 food groups);and 24-hour dietary recall was used to obtain nutrient adequacy of diet. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, Pearson’s correlation coefficient, and level of significance set at p < 0.05. Malnutrition among pre-schoolers was more prevalent among males (22.0%) than females (18.4%). Stunting was the most prevalent form of malnutrition (26.8%). The DDS of pre-schoolers was low (3.2 ± 1.9). The most consumed food group was cereals, roots and tubers (83.9%) while fruit was least consumed (6.5%). Nutrient adequacy ratio for carbohydrate was highest (1.2 ± 0.2) and least in fibre (0.2 ± 0.2), while mean adequacy ratio for food consumed was (0.72 ± 0.13). There was weak relationship between DDS and nutritional status—wasting (r =-0.067), stunting (r =-0.002) and underweight (r =-0.056). Low dietary diversity and malnutrition existed among pre-school children in the three LGAs. Nutrition education and enlightenment programmes are required by the parents/guardians of pre-school children on importance of dietary diversity in these areas.

Comparison Study of Art Therapy and Play Therapy in Reducing Anxiety on Pre-School Children Who Experience Hospitalization

Pain and hospitalization caused a crisis in the child’s life. At the pre-school children, the stress of the disease makes children become less able to cope with separation. As a result, many children show anxious behavior though more vague than toddler age children. Various ways have been conducted by nurses to treat anxiety in children, but the most effective types of the intervention have not be found. Types of intervention that can be done are art therapy and play therapy. This study aims to compare the effects of art therapy and play therapy in reducing anxiety on children who experience hospitalization. A quasi-experimental research design with pre-post test two group design is used. The sample was 23 children pre-school age for art therapy group and 25 children for play therapy with sampling techniques performed purposive sampling. Intervention of art therapy and play therapy each performed for 3 days with duration about 30 minutes. Anxiety levels before and after the intervention were measured by using the facial affective scale. The results show that there is a difference in anxiety between before and after the action in the art therapy group (p = 0.00) and that there are differences in anxiety before and after the action in the play therapy group (0.00). But statistical tests using Man Whitney U indicate that there is no difference in anxiety levels in pre-school children who do art therapy and play therapy (p = 0.26). So, it is concluded that the art therapy and the play therapy can reduce the level of anxiety on pre-school school children that experience hospitalization. Based on these conclusions, it is recommended that the art therapy and the play therapy can be used by nurses and the choice of the intervention should be submitted to the child.

Food Consumption Patterns among Pre-School Children 3 - 5 Years Old in Mateka, Western Kenya

Hunger and malnutrition are burdens that are pronounced in developing countries where they manifest themselves in the forms of protein energy malnutrition. Malnutrition compromises the child’s immune system leading to direct mortality and increased vulnerability to infectious diseases stunting and poor brain development. This study sought to analyze the food consumption patterns of children 3 - 5 years old attending Mateka Primary school, Bungoma County. This study adopted a cross sectional survey. One hundred and twenty five (125) children selected from three ECD classes in the school formed the sample size. Purposive and simple random sampling techniques were used to select the study area and the children respectively. Structured questionnaires were administered to the caregivers of the children. Information on demographics, socio-economic status, and food consumption patterns were gathered. Food consumption patterns were assessed using a HDDS and a quantitative food frequency questionnaire. Socio-demographic data was analyzed using (SPSS) Version 21 (2007) and dietary data was analyzed using Nutri-Survey for Windows (2007). Results revealed that most of the households were of low socio-economic characteristics. The most consumed foods were cereals, roots and tubers. Majority (55.2%) of the children had low dietary diversity, 29.1% had medium dietary diversity and 15.7% had greater dietary diversity. The children were deficient in energy, protein, Vitamin A, Iron and Zinc. It can be concluded that the diets fed to the children are inadequate to meet their nutrient intakes for physiological development and growth. Further research should be done to document the prevalence of micronutrient malnutrition among the children.

Effects of Pre-Schooler Lifestyle on the Circadian Rhythm of Secretory Immunoglobulin A

Assuming that secretory immunoglobulin A (s-IgA) in pre-schoolers is influenced by wake-up time, bedtime, sleeping duration and activity, the current study examined the influence of basic pre-schooler lifestyle on the circadian rhythm of s-IgA. We conducted a questionnaire survey on lifestyle and measured steps, heart rate and salivary s-IgA in 44 pre-schoolers aged 4 or 5 years old. Saliva was collected over 2 days at six time points: bedtime, upon waking up, upon arriving at nursery school, before lunch, after lunch and upon going home. To obtain relatively reliable s-IgA values, the s-IgA concentration/total protein concentration ratio (referred to as s-IgA/T.P.) was calculated. Relationship between the s-IgA/T.P. and heart rate, steps, wake-up time, bedtime and sleeping duration was then examined using Pearson’s correlation coefficient. Accordingly, pre-schooler lifestyle had the following effect on circadian rhythm of s-IgA: 1) s-IgA/T.P. values were higher upon waking up than at other measurement time points;2) pre-schoolers with considerable physical activity had high s-IgA/T.P. at bedtime and upon waking up;and 3) pre-schoolers with long sleeping durations and early bedtime had high s-IgA/T.P. upon waking up. Thus, our results confirmed that pre-schoolers’ lifestyle habits, such as bedtime, sleeping duration, physical activity, had an effect on the circadian rhythm of s-IgA.

Satisfying Toilet Needs in Pre-School —Experiences of 5 - 6 Years Old

Background: It is known that, for reasons of hygiene and/or anxiety, some first year primary school children actively choose to avoid going to the toilet whilst at school, while at the same time many young children’s primary care visits are due to urinary tract and bowel problems. By this age most children can recognise the bodily signals indicating the need for a toilet visit, and can independently perform the associated routines. Aim of this study was to describe the experience of healthy 5 to 6 years old when needing and using toilets whilst at pre-school. Methods: A qualitative descriptive method was used. Seventeen children aged 5 to 6 years were interviewed. Results: Nearly all used the toilet when the need arose, but there were times during the day when their freedom to use the toilet was restricted. Most children experienced periods of waiting outside the toilet and a long wait could result in a decision to not use it. On those occasions when help was needed, it was usually necessary to shout once or more in order to attract the teacher’s attention. Some children found the toilets clean and fresh while others found them dirty and smelly. Privacy during toilet visits was desirable among the children but queue outside the toilet was a cause of worry. Conclusion: The children were mostly able to use the toilet whilst at preschool, despite the challenges to their senses and integrity and occasionally issues with the teacher’s rules. The need for privacy often had to yield to the teacher’s need to control the children or even because toilet doors and/or locks were not adapted to the children’s requirements.

Summary of the Present Situation of Inheritance of Qiang Dance in Pre-School Education

The Qiang Nationality has a long history and forms a dance form rich in lively rhythm, beats and heroic dance postures in the long process of its development. As a member of the Chinese traditional dance culture, and affected by Qiang Nationality's no written language, the Qiang dance can only be inherited by means of oral or mental instruction. Therefore, its inheritance has already been in crisis with the Qiang people's gradually going out of the national and geographical restrictions. At this time, teaching Qiang dance in the pre-school education can achieve the purpose of cultivating the traditional dance feelings of Qiang Nationality from the early childhood, thus making the children become inheritor and disseminator of Qiang culture. At the present stage, many scholars in our country have explored the inheritance of Qiang dance in pre-school education, and have reached certain research results. After clarifying the internal and external influencing factors of the Qiang dance and its inheritance, this paper summarizes the existing research results mainly from the two aspects including the problems of Qiang dance inheritance existing in the pre-school education and its application to the inheritance strategy.

Association of Breastfeeding Duration with Body Composition in Children Aged 3–5 Years

Objective This study aimed to assess the relationship between the body composition of children aged 3–5 years and breastfeeding status and duration.Methods The study was conducted using data from the National Nutrition and Health Systematic Survey for children 0–17 years of age in China(CNHSC),a nationwide cross-sectional study.Breastfeeding information and potential confounders were collected using standardized questionnaires administered through face-to-face interviews.The body composition of preschool children was measured using bioelectrical impedance analysis.A multivariate linear regression model was used to assess the relationship between breastfeeding duration and body composition after adjusting for potential confounders.Results In total,2,008 participants were included in the study.Of these,89.2%were ever breastfed and the median duration of breastfeeding was 12 months(IQR 7–15 months).Among children aged 3 years,the height-for-age Z-score(HAZ)for the ever breastfed group was lower than that for never breastfed group(0.12 vs.0.42,P=0.043).In addition,the weight-for-age Z-score(WAZ)of the ever breastfed group was lower than that of the never breastfed group(0.31 vs.0.65,P=0.026),and the WAZ was lower in children aged 4 years who breastfed between 12 and 23 months than in those who never breastfed.Compared to the formula-fed children,the fat-free mass of breastfed infants was higher for children aged 3 years(12.84 kg vs.12.52 kg,P=0.015)and lower for those aged 4 years(14.31 kg vs.14.64 kg,P=0.048),but no difference was detected for children aged 5 years(16.40 kg vs.16.42 kg,P=0.910)after adjusting for potential confounders.No significant difference was detected in the weight-for-height Z-score(WHZ),body mass index(BMI)-for-age Z-score(BAZ),fat-free mass index,and body fat indicators in the ever breastfed and never breastfed groups and among various breastfeeding duration groups for children aged 3–5 years.Conclusion No obvious associations were detected between breastfeeding duration,BMI,and fat mass indicators.Future prospective studies should explore the relationship between breastfeeding status and fat-free mass.

Is forced oscillation technique the next respiratory function test of choice in childhood asthma

Respiratory diseases, especially asthma, are common in children. While spirometry contributes to asthma diagnosis and management in older children, it has a limited role in younger children whom are often unable to perform forced expiratory manoeuvre. The development of novel diagnostic methods which require minimal effort, such as forced oscillation technique(FOT) is, therefore, a welcome and promising addition. FOT involves applying external, small amplitude oscillations to the respiratory system during tidal breathing. Therefore, it requires minimal effort and cooperation. The FOT has the potential to facilitate asthma diagnosis and management in preschool children by faciliting the objective measurement of baseline lung function and airway reactivity in children unable to successfully perform spirometry. Traditionally the use of FOT was limited to specialised centres. However, the availability of commercial equipment resulted in its use both in research and in clinical practice. In this article, we review the available literature on the use of FOT in childhood asthma. The technical aspects of FOT are described followed by a discussion of its practical aspects in the clinical field including the measurement of baseline lung function and associated reference ranges, bronchodilator responsiveness and bronchial hyperresponsiveness. We also highlight the difficulties and limitations that might be encountered and future research directions.

Effect of Social Media Celebrities on Children’s Satisfaction with Their Body Image

This study investigated the impact of social media and media on children’s body satisfaction in early childhood.The effect of social media and media on children’s body image and differences between girls’and boys’acceptance of their body image were explored.A questionnaire and an illustrated body satisfaction scale were distributed to a sample of 491 children in Saudi Arabia(246 girls,245 boys)aged 5-7 years.The results revealed differences between children’s responses to the illustrated body satisfaction scale and questionnaire.Questionnaire data revealed children were satisfied with their body image(91.4%,standard deviation[SD]0.53),skin color(91.2%,SD 0.53),and weight(79.6%)and did not want to change their shape(73.7%).However,the illustrated body satisfaction scale indicated many children wanted to be like social media celebrities(37.9%),television and film celebrities(32.6%),and famous singers(25.5%).No statistically significant differences were found between girls and boys in body satisfaction,although 66.9%of boys wanted the shape of their body to be more muscular,and girls wanted blue or green eyes and blond hair.This study also revealed Disney princesses had a major effect on girls compared with other media.The researcher recommends conducting longitudinal studies in Arab societies,particularly in Saudi Arabia,to explore the influence of celebrities on children as they age.Importantly,educational policymakers should include pictures of Arab children in the curricula instead of foreign children.

Assessment of Eye-hand Coordination in Italian Preschools

In 2012, the Italian Ministry of Education introduced in the Guidelines for preschool the need to evaluate one aspect of coordination related to the eye-hand relationship. Meinel＇s theoretical model provides an overview of the eye hand coordination, based on capacity to integrate anatomic-functional skills with specific and synchronic hand＇s actions. Meinel＇s model is rich of possible teaching ideas which are consistent with the Italian school system. They might also be a topical theoretical support to choose and use the motor evaluation tests in the Italian preschool, in order to evaluate the eye hand coordination and its constituent elements.

Language Education for Preschool Children Based on Bandura's Self-efficacy Theory

Self-efficacy was proposed by American psychologist Bandura in 1977.This paper explores the relationship between self-efficacy theory and children's language development,and proposes strategies to improve children’s self-efficacy in an all-round way,such as correcting adults’attitudes towards children’s language learning,paying attention to children’s individual language learning experience,playing a role of peer model demonstration,setting up the moderate difficulty of language learning task,and exerting children's self-efficacy in language learning in different types of language activities.

Investigating the Preschool education Specialty in the Higher vocational school--An Empirical study of Hengyang City China

Accurate understanding of the demand for talents in higher vocational preschool education majors under the background of the integration of industry and education is helpful to provide a practical theoretical basis for the formulation of five-year preschool education specialty direction and teaching standards.Through questionnaire survey,field interview,literature review and other ways to vocational colleges,kindergartens,preschool field related employers to carry out real-time research.Through the investigation,it is found that the number of graduates majoring in three-year preschool education can not meet the demand of the local market,and the flow of graduates is the key factor that directly leads to the market"short supply".In addition,there are other problems in the demand situation.Combined with the investigation and analysis,measures such as establishing the five-year preschool education major,optimizing the core curriculum system,and strengthening the long-term mechanism of school-enterprise cooperation are proposed.

Effect of hand hygiene intervention on the absenteeism of pre-school children in Klang Valley,Malaysia:a quasi-experimental study

Background Absenteeism amongst pre-school children is often due to illnesses such as hand,foot,and mouth disease,acute gastroenteritis,cold and flu,which are easily spread amongst them.This is because of weak immunity and lack of knowledge on proper hand hygiene.This quasi-experimental study assessed the efficacy of an intervention consisting of a hand hygiene education programme,along with digital tools in bringing about a change in behaviour and health conditions amongst pre-school children in Klang Valley,Malaysia.Methods A total of 377 school children,male and female,aged 5–6 years old,participated and were assigned to either the intervention or a control group.During the 2 months intervention period,children in the test group were trained on proper hand hygiene practices and techniques with the aid of the interactive android-based tablets.The numbers of absent days of all the children were recorded for 2 months before the intervention and during the intervention.Results In the test group,there was a 25%increase in the total number of absent days from the pre-intervention period to the intervention period,a much lesser increment observed as compared to that of control group in which the increase was much higher at 89%.Results showed a significant difference(P<0·05)between the absenteeism rates for the test and control group during the intervention period.Conclusion These results suggest that proper education and intervention increase hand hygiene compliance,which may help decrease school absenteeism due to illness;however,a longer study duration may be necessary to evaluate the benefit further.

Reinfection of urogenital schistosomiasis in pre-school children in a highly endemic district in Northern Zimbabwe:a 12 months compliance study

Background:In light of the shift to aiming for schistosomiasis elimination,the following are needed:data on reinfection patterns,participation,and sample submission adherence of all high-risk age groups to intervention strategies.This study was conducted to assess prevalence,reinfections along with consecutive participation,sample submission adherence,and effect of treatment on schistosomiasis prevalence in children aged five years and below in an endemic district in Zimbabwe,over one year.Methods:The study was conducted from February 2016-February 2017 in Madziwa area,Shamva district.Following community mobilisation,mothers brought their children aged 5 years and below for recruitment at baseline and also urine sample collection at baseline,3,6,9 and 12 months follow up surveys.At each time point,urine was tested for urogenital schistosomiasis by urine filtration and children found positive received treatment.Schistosoma haematobium prevalence,reinfections as well as children participation,and urine sample submission at each visit were assessed at each time point for one year.Results:Of the 535 children recruited from the five communities,169(31.6%)participated consecutively at all survey points.The highest mean number of samples submitted was 2.9 among communities and survey points.S.haematobium prevalence significantly reduced from 13.3%at baseline to 2.8%at 12 months for all participants and from 24.9%at baseline to 1.8%at 12 months(P<0.001)for participants coming at all-time points.Among the communities,the highest baseline prevalence was found in Chihuri for both the participants coming consecutively(38.5%,10/26)and all participants(20.4%,21/103).Reinfections were significantly high at 9 months follow up survey(P=0.021)and in Mupfure(P=0.003).New infections significantly decreased over time(P<0.001).Logistic regression analysis showed that the risk of acquiring schistosomiasis was high in some communities(P<0.05).Conclusions:S.haematobium infections and reinfections are seasonal and depend on micro-geographical settings.The risk of being infected with schistosomes in pre-school aged children increases with increasing age.Sustained treatment of infected individuals in a community reduces prevalence overtime.Participation compliance at consecutive visits and sample submission adherence are important for effective operational control interventions.

Pre-school Profits

High fees place a strain on parents who want to send their children to kindergarten Even if Yunyun were accepted by Peking or Oxford University in the future, I might not be solexcited,

Epidemiology of pediatric schistosomiasis in hard-to-reach areas and populations:a scoping review

Background Schistosomiasis affects over 250 million people worldwide.Despite children and the poor being key risk groups,limited research and control activities target pre-school aged children(PSAC)and hard-to-reach populations.As endemic countries shift the goals of their schistosomiasis programs from morbidity control to disease elimination,there is a need for inclusive planning to cover all affected age groups from all geographical areas and populations to achieve sustainable impact and health equity.Methods We conducted searches in MEDLINE,Web of Science,Embase(Ovid),and LILACS per the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses—Extension for Scoping Reviews(PRISMA-ScR)guidelines.Quality assessment of identified articles was done using the Joanna Briggs Institute Prevalence Critical Appraisal Tool.Relevant study data were extracted from the articles and entered into Microsoft Excel 2016 for descriptive analysis.Results From the 17,179 screened articles,we identified 13 eligible studies on schistosomiasis in PSAC living in hard-to-reach areas and populations.All identified studies were from sub-Saharan Africa.The mean sample size of the retained studies was 572,with a balanced sex distribution among the young children sampled in each study.Ten studies investigated Schistosoma mansoni,one investigated Schistosoma haematobium,while two covered both S.mansoni and S.haematobium in the target population.The prevalence of S.mansoni among PSAC in the included studies was estimated at 12.9%in Ghana,80.3–90.5%in Kenya,35.0%in Madagascar,9.6–78.0%in Senegal,11.2–35.4%in Sierra Leone,44.4–54.9%in Tanzania and 39.3–74.9%in Uganda.Out of the three studies that investigated S.haematobium,the presence of the infection was reported in only one study carried out in Nigeria.Schistosome infections reported in nearly all studies included in this review were of light intensity.Only one study conducted in Nigeria documented visible hematuria in 17.7%of the PSAC studied.Conclusions The findings document the high prevalence of schistosomiasis among PSAC in hard-to-reach populations and underscore the need to consider this population subgroup when designing the expansion of preventive chemotherapy and schistosomiasis control activities.