Emotional and Behavioral Problems of Left-Behind Children in Impoverished Rural China:A Comparative Cross-Sectional Study of First Grade Junior High School

Objective:To investigate the prevalence of emotional and behavioral problems and related factors of left-behind children in impoverished rural China(mainly in thefirst grade of junior high school).Methods:A cross-sectional survey of rural households in 27 poverty-stricken counties in 12 provinces across China was conducted using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire(SDQ).Results:The prevalence of emotional and behavioral problems in left-behind children was 11.7%,and that of non-left-behind children was 8.9%.There was statistical difference between the two groups(P<0.01).There are no differences between the two groups in terms of the various factors of SDQ.The incidence of insomnia in the left-behind group was 58.3%,which was higher than that in the non-left-behind group 50.9%(P<0.01);loneliness(62.1%vs.51.8%,P<0.01);running away from home(23.1%vs.18.8%,P<0.01),and self-injury behavior(16.8%vs.12.2%,P<0.01).Left-behind children are more likely to have negative psychological feelings including insomnia,loneliness,self-injury,and run away from home.They also experienced more bullying including maliciously teased by peers,intentionally excluded or isolated,physically threatened or intimidated.All of these factors are associated with their abnormal emotional and behavioural development.Conclusion:The incidence of emotional and behavioral problems of left-behind children in rural areas in poverty-stricken areas is significantly higher than that of non-left-behind children;Logistic regression analysis showed that bullying behavior and abnormal psychological characteristics are significantly associated with left-behind adolescents abnormal emotional and behavioral development.

Effective Use of Near Real-time Monitoring System for Stunting Reduction in Zimbabwe

Background:In Zimbabwe,26.2 percent of children under five are stunted.Evidence has shown that multi-sector interventions are key to addressing stunting.Yet,practical implementation is difficult,often occurring through separate disjointed and uncoordinated sector actions with limited access to real time information for decision-making.Objective:To describe the design,implementation,successes,challenges and lessons learned from using a near-real time monitoring(NRTM)system as a monitoring tool for multi-sectoral community based model for stunting reduction in Zimbabwe.Methods:An open source technology was used to obtain the information needed on the multi-sectoral coordination process,provide a common platform to capture and present data on situational factors,community conditions and practices to be acted upon and thus contribute to reducing stunting.Results:Significant improvements in community data flows were noted;the system brought together several types of data,concepts,stakeholders and multi-sector energies into focused programming.Several challenges including conceptual issues,initial coordination,financial resources and missed partnership opportunities were documented.The introduction of the NRTM system resulted in improved data flows for programme monitoring and facilitated multi-sector collaboration.Conclusion:NRTM is an effective monitoring tool for the multi-sectoral community based model to reduce stunting in Zimbabwe.

Does HIV Status Affect Utilization of Maternal Care Services among Women in India: An Analysis of NFHS 2005-2006

The objective of the study is to understand the relationship between HIV status, fertility and utilisa-tion of maternal care services in India using the NFHS 2005-2006 data. The mean number of children ever born (a measure of fertility) is substantially higher among HIV-negative women than among the HIV-positive women (2.8 and 2.1 respectively). Ten-year age specific fertility rates (ASFR) were calculated, there is no noticeable difference in pattern of ASFR between HIV-positive and HIV-negative category of women observed though the ASFRs were substantially lower among the HIV-positive women. The total fertility rate (TFR) among HIV-positive women (0.84) is substantially lower at one third of the TFR among HIV-negative women (2.78). The proportion of HIV-positive pregnant women utilising ANC services is 92 percent compared to 78 percent among HIV-negative women, who have alive birth during the 5-year preceding the survey. Similarly, the proportion of HIV-positive women (67%) delivering their babies in an institution is also much higher than among HIV-negative women (40%). This study concludes that the effort of the government to integrate ART services with maternity care services is likely to have benefited the HIV positive mothers.

Co-morbidity of malnutrition with falciparum malaria parasitaemia among children under the aged 6-59 months in Somalia:a geostatistical analysis

Background:Malnutrition and malaria are both significant causes of morbidity and mortality in African children.However,the extent of their spatial comorbidity remains unexplored and an understanding of their spatial correlation structure would inform improvement of integrated interventions.We aimed to determine the spatial correlation between both wasting and low mid upper arm circumference(MUAC)and falciparum malaria among Somalian children aged 6-59 months.Methods:Data were from 49227 children living in 888 villages between 2007 to 2010.We developed a Bayesian geostatistical shared component model in order to determine the common spatial distributions of wasting and falciparum malaria;and low-MUAC and falciparum malaria at 1×1 km spatial resolution.Results:The empirical correlations with malaria were 0.16 and 0.23 for wasting and low-MUAC respectively.Shared spatial residual effects were statistically significant for both wasting and low-MUAC.The posterior spatial relative risk was highest for low-MUAC and malaria(range:0.19 to 5.40)and relatively lower between wasting and malaria(range:0.11 to 3.55).Hotspots for both wasting and low-MUAC with malaria occurred in the South Central region in Somalia.Conclusions:The findings demonstrate a relationship between nutritional status and falciparum malaria parasitaemia,and support the use of the relatively simpler MUAC measurement in surveys.Shared spatial distribution and distinct hotspots present opportunities for targeted seasonal chemoprophylaxis and other forms of malaria prevention integrated within nutrition programmes.