Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Child growth'
To see the other types of publications on this topic, follow the link: Child growth.
Create a spot-on reference in APA, MLA, Chicago, Harvard, and other styles
Consult the top 50 dissertations / theses for your research on the topic 'Child growth.'
Next to every source in the list of references, there is an 'Add to bibliography' button. Press on it, and we will generate automatically the bibliographic reference to the chosen work in the citation style you need: APA, MLA, Harvard, Chicago, Vancouver, etc.
You can also download the full text of the academic publication as pdf and read online its abstract whenever available in the metadata.
Browse dissertations / theses on a wide variety of disciplines and organise your bibliography correctly.
1
Argyle, Jennifer. "Statistical analysis of child growth data." Thesis, Durham University, 2002. http://etheses.dur.ac.uk/4113/.
Full textAbstract:
The study of child growth is complex. There are many clinical questions to answer but not necessarily the statistical methodology to deal with these questions. Human growth begins at conception and continues into adult life. In chapter 1 we discuss the characteristics of the growth process from conception to maturity and the purpose of growth monitoring. In chapter 2 we summarise the mathematical approaches to growth data. In chapter 3 we summarise the approaches that have been used to detect growth faltering. In this chapter we introduce the conditional gain Z-score. The data set analysed within this thesis is from the Newcastle growth and development study. In infancy we have routine weights of 3415 term infants. A sub-sample of these infants were followed-up at 7-9 years as part of a research study. These children belonged to three subgroups: cases were children that were defined as failing to thrive in infancy, controls were matched to cases and a 20% systematic sample. The school entry data of the sub-sample followed at 7-9 years were retrieved from school health records. In chapter 4 we carry out a preliminary analysis of the routine infancy weight Z-scores. The infancy data provided the opportunity to generate the correlation structure of routine weight Z-scores in infancy. In chapter 5 we develop a model for this correlation structure. In chapter 7 we explore patterns in the conditional weight gain Z-scores and also suggest some alternative criteria for identifying growth faltering in infancy. In chapters 6, 8 and 9 we analyse the anthropometric data obtained at follow-up and school entry. In childhood, the conditional gain Z-score is used to contrast height with mid-parental height and height at follow-up with height at school entry. The anthropometric data of the case and control children will be compared.
2
Stirling, H. F. "Growth promotion in the short normal child." Thesis, University of Liverpool, 1995. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.526142.
Full textAbstract:
Short stature and puberty delay can cause problems, both physical and psychological. Until relatively recently growth hormone was only available for children who met the criteria of "classical" growth hormone deficiency. Recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) is now available in "unlimited" supply. Detailed studies are required to evaluate its use in short children who are not growth hormone insufficient in the traditional sense, but who may benefit from treatment. This thesis presents three studies in short normal children to evaluate the physical and psychological effects of growth promoting agents over the first two years of treatment. 1) a double blind placebo controlled study of rhGH in 37 pre-pubertal children (mean age 8.0 yrs) with familial short stature. This unequivocally demonstrates the short-term growth promoting effects of rhGH - over the first year the children treated with rhGH grew at a mean rate of 7.67 cm/yr, compared to 4.76 cm/yr for those who received placebo and 4.83 cm/yr for those who received no treatment. The onset and rate of puberty, especially in the girls, tended to be advanced. 2) in a randomised study in 43 peri-pubertal boys (mean age 11.6 yrs) with familial short stature, the growth promoting effects of rhGH were compared with the anabolic steroid oxandrolone, a combination of rhGH with oxandrolone, and a control group who received no active treatment. In the short term growth improved in the three actively treated groups compared to the control group - over the first study year the boys who received rhGH grew at a rate of 7.58 cm/yr, compared to 8.08 cm/yr for oxandrolone alone, 9.92 cm/yr in those who received rhGH plus oxandrolone, and 4.73cm/yr in the control group. In the groups who received oxandrolone, either singly or in combination with rhGH, onset of puberty was earlier and skeletal maturation more rapid. Caution is required in using oxandrolone to promote growth in younger boys without significant growth delay. 3) in a randomised study in 33 boys with puberty delay (mean age 14.9 yrs) the growth promoting effects of rhGH were compared with oral testosterone undecanoate, and a combination of the two drugs. There were no significant differences in the growth promoting effects (rhGH 8.59, testosterone undecanoate 8.48, combination 9.91 cm/yr) or rate of pubertal progression between the three groups There is no advantage Df rhGH therapy in boys with puberty delay, compared to oral testosterone undecanoate. Children of short stature are often thought to suffer from psychological or behavioural problems. A range of self report questionnaires was undertaken in these children prior to entry into the studies and at yearly intervals. They were not as a group clinically disturbed, but tended to score highly on hyperactivity. In those who received active treatements, especially rhGH, the reported behaviour and self esteem tended to improve, but the effects were not marked. It is possible to accelerate the growth of short normal children, at least in the short term, though it is less likely there will be a significant improvement in final height. There are psychological effects of growth promotion but they are subtle. It is difficult to justify the use of rhGH in young children with familial short stature, or in boys with puberty delay. Growth hormone must not be used indiscriminately in the short normal child.
3
Lo, Pang-yuen. "Early childhood growth patterns and adult health indicators." View the Table of Contents & Abstract, 2006. http://sunzi.lib.hku.hk/hkuto/record/B38030603.
Full text
4
Kon, Y. P. "Corneal growth in the normal and aphakic child." Thesis, City University London, 1988. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.380637.
Full text
5
Ross, Erin Sundseth. "Early growth faltering predicts longitudinal growth failure /." Connect to full text via ProQuest. Limited to UCD Anschutz Medical Campus, 2007.
Find full textAbstract:
Thesis (Ph.D. in Clinical Science) -- University of Colorado Denver, 2007.Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 130-146). Free to UCD affiliates. Online version available via ProQuest Digital Dissertations;
6
Wang, Ruiting. "Economic Analyses of Population Policies: One-child Policy and Child Allowances." Doctoral thesis, Kyoto University, 2021. http://hdl.handle.net/2433/263410.
Full text
7
Lo, Pang-yuen, and 羅鵬遠. "Early childhood growth patterns and adult health indicators." Thesis, The University of Hong Kong (Pokfulam, Hong Kong), 2006. http://hub.hku.hk/bib/B39724864.
Full text
8
Clark, Samuel Charles. "Education through growth : a study of a child-centred concept." Thesis, University College London (University of London), 1986. http://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/10019610/.
Full text
9
Diao, Nancy. "Prenatal Metals Exposure and Child Birth and Growth in Bangladesh." Thesis, Harvard University, 2015. http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:HUL.InstRepos:16121151.
Full textAbstract:
The objective of this dissertation is to contribute to ongoing research on prenatal metals exposure, in terms of arsenic, lead, and manganese, and infant health and growth, and to deepen the understanding of the complexity of such problems. We seek to do so in three parts. First we examine the association between combined prenatal metals exposure and infant birth weight and head circumference. Then, we look at the effect on birth weight from the HFE gene variants and its interaction effects with arsenic. Finally, we look at the association of prenatal metals exposure and child growth up to 36 months. The study populations of all three of our studies are taken from mothers enrolled in 2 hospitals affiliated with Dhaka Community Hospital in Bangladesh. They were given self-administered questionnaires at time of enrollment and are followed after birth. Child measurements were taken at time of birth, and the biomarker for these studies are cord blood metal measurements.
In the first part of this dissertation, through multivariate linear regression, including a metal interaction term, we found that prenatal arsenic and manganese exposure individually associated with lowered birth weight and birth head circumference. We also found evidence of interactions between the two metals, suggesting that joint exposure creates greater deficit in birth outcomes. In the next part, looking at gene-environment interactions, we found significant modification effects of multiple SNPs on the HFE gene that increased the association between arsenic and birth weight. We also found direct effect of less studied HFE genes to lower birth weight. Finally, we assessed the effect of prenatal metals exposure on early growth in children through longitudinal analysis. In following the weight and height of the child from birth up to 36 months of age, our results indicated adverse association between arsenic and manganese on growth.Environmental Health
10
Voss, Linda. "The short normal child : growth and psychosocial functioning in the prepubertal years (the Wessex Growth Study)." Thesis, University of Southampton, 1997. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.242653.
Full text
11
Keshtkaran, Mona. "Growth and body composition in children with Inflammatory Bowel Disease." Thesis, University of Southampton, 2012. https://eprints.soton.ac.uk/362500/.
Full textAbstract:
Crohn`s Disease (CD) and Ulcerative Colitis (UC), two types of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), are chronic, relapsing inflammatory conditions of the gastro-intestinal tract. Approximately 25% of cases are diagnosed in childhood and adolescence; affected children suffer from symptoms such as abdominal pain, bloody diarrhoea, fatigue, and poor nutritional state. Poor growth, in terms of both height and weight, precedes diagnosis and further weight may be lost with successive inflammatory exacerbations. Changes in height and weight are used as a marker of both disease severity and response to treatment, but the associated changes in body composition with changes in weight are poorly characterised and understood, and rarely assessed in routine clinical care. Being able to determine the nature and size of any deficits in lean and fat mass may provide a better understanding of the disease process, whilst gains in height and lean tissue, relative to increases in fat mass, could also be used to mark the effectiveness of clinical management and improvement in nutritional state. Exclusive enteral nutrition is now being used in preference to anti-inflammatory therapy in children with IBD, but there are increasing concerns that the focus on weight gain as children move into remission with only modest gains in height reflects an inappropriate mix of tissue deposition with greater gains in fat than lean. The central hypothesis of this thesis is that children with IBD present at diagnosis with a lean deficit, greater that that which can be simply attributed to their lack of height, and that conventional therapy, including exclusive enteral nutrition, may not adequately correct the nutritional state and deficit of lean tissue. In order to test this hypothesis, the work described in this thesis is presented in three parts. Firstly, a cross-sectional study of a convenient sample of children with CD and UC drawn from the regional IBD outpatient clinic to explore the extent and nature of the differences in height, weight and BMI expressed as SD scores, together with simple measures of body composition using anthropometry. This initial study confirmed that whilst as a group, both CD and UC children exhibit only modest deficits in height, weight and BMI there was marked variance across the group with more pronounced deficits in some children. Lower Upper Arm Muscle Area SD scores and higher Triceps skinfold thickness SD scores would support the proposition of a general lean deficit and fat excess, even in children with BMI range within ± 2SD. The second part explored different approaches to assessing body composition by i) determining the concurrent and face validity of different bioelectrical impedance devices using deuterium dilution space as a reference method and ii) the potential of using SIFT-MS to conduct real-time near-patient measures of deuterium abundance on breath vapour was examined in comparison to measures of deuterium abundance in saliva and urine assessed by both SIFT-MS and IRMS. These studies demonstrated important differences in lean mass were evident between devices. Deuterium abundance in saliva and urine by SIFT-MS was directly comparable to that by IRMS although higher levels of D O administration were required for optimal analytical performance; greater imprecision was evident in determining deuterium abundance in breath. The third part described detailed measures of body composition (anthropometry, DXA, deuterium abundance in saliva by IRMS, and BIA) in a prospective inception cohort of eleven children with CD studied at diagnosis, and followed for the first year of treatment from active disease into remission using exclusive enteral nutrition. Lean deficits identified using both DXA and Upper Arm Muscle Area was evident at diagnosis greater than that which could be attributed to shortness. Treatment was associated with gains in height and weight, but in contrast to previous reports where corticosteroids were only used to induce remission, gains in lean mass over the first year of treatment using exclusive enteral nutrition were observed which were greater than that which could be attributed to an increase in height that reflect at least a partial correction of the lean deficit.
12
Truong, Mya Sioux. "The quality of discourse on growth and life cycles among 9-11 year olds in a knowledge building classroom." Thesis, Click to view the E-thesis via HKUTO, 2008. http://sunzi.lib.hku.hk/hkuto/record/B42554688.
Full text
13
Kamal, Shahid. "Some statistical aspects of child health and growth modelling in Pakistan." Thesis, University of Exeter, 1990. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.279799.
Full text
14
Malik, Umm ie Salma. "Effect of therapeutic interventions on skeletal growth & development in paediatric inflammatory bowel disease." Thesis, University of Glasgow, 2013. http://theses.gla.ac.uk/4421/.
Full textAbstract:
Crohn’s disease (CD) is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease. Once considered rare in the paediatric population, it is recognized with increasing frequency among children of all ages. Approximately 20-30% of all patients with CD present when they are younger than 20 years. With its increasing recognition, CD has become one of the most important chronic diseases that affect children and adolescents. In addition to the common gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms (diarrhoea, rectal bleeding, and abdominal pain) children often experience growth retardation, pubertal delay, and bone demineralization. In these children, maintenance of skeletal health is a complex process that is influenced by a number of different mechanisms including steroid therapy, the disease process, nutritional status, endocrine status and the response of the body to inflammatory mediators. The recent introduction of biologic therapy that targets specific mediators of the proinflammatory process is a promising adjunct in the therapeutic management of the child with chronic inflammation. These drugs may also exert beneficial effects on the adverse effects of inflammation on growth and skeletal development. It is unclear whether these beneficial effects are due to improvement in overall disease or due to a direct ‘anti-cytokine’ effect at the level of the target tissue involved in growth and skeletal development. The hypothesis of this study was that the biologic therapy improves linear growth, puberty, bone health, body composition and muscle function in children with CD and this is associated with changes in the IGF-1 axis and markers of bone formation and bone resorption. Chapter 1 is an extensive literature review about the effects of biologic therapy on growth and skeletal development in paediatric patients with chronic inflammatory conditions particularly inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The main aim of this review was to summarize and evaluate effects of inflammation and biologic therapy on growth and skeletal development in children with chronic inflammatory conditions and to explore the areas of interest for further research. Chapter 2 is the study about the growth in children receiving contemporary disease specific therapy in children with CD. The aim of this study was to assess the frequency of short stature and poor growth and their relationship to disease course and therapy in children with CD. Clinical records of all children with a confirmed diagnosis of CD, who were between 2yrs and 18yrs at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children, Glasgow were examined retrospectively. Data were collected at diagnosis, 1-yr, 2-yr and 3-yr after diagnosis and at maximum follow-up. The relationship of a number of factors including therapeutic modalities to two commonly used anthropometric markers of growth height velocity standard deviation scores (HVSDS) and change in height standard deviation scores (∆HtSDS) was examined. This study suggested that ∆HtSDS may be a more valid method of assessing and reporting longitudinal growth in children with chronic disease, particularly when there is a high prevalence of children of a peri-pubertal age. This study provides clear evidence that despite advances in therapy, short stature and slow growth continue to be encountered in a sub-group of children with CD. Chapter 3 is about the effect of Infliximab therapy on growth, puberty and disease activity in children with CD. The aim of this study was to assess growth, puberty, markers of disease and concomitant therapy over the six months prior to starting Infliximab and for the 6 and 12 months following treatment. Clinical records of all children with IBD who were started on Infliximab therapy between 2003 and 2008 at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children were examined retrospectively. This study has shown an average improvement of approximately 50% in HV in the 6 months after the initiation of Infliximab therapy which was further sustained for a further 6 months. Improvement in growth was found to be better in those children who were responders as compared to non-responders suggests that growth improved as a result of disease control. Improvement in growth was also observed in children who remained pre-pubertal and those who had never been on glucocorticoids (GC) compared to those who had been on GC. This study suggests that increase in height may not be simply due to progress in pubertal status or reduction in glucocorticoid dose. Chapter 4 is about the effect of Adalimumab therapy on growth in paediatric patients with CD. This is the one and only world wide multicentre study that adequately assess the effect of Adalimumab on linear growth in children with CD. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of Adalimumab therapy on growth, puberty and disease activity over the 6 months prior to and 6 months after starting Adalimumab treatment in children with CD. This study provides evidence that Adalimumab is associated with improvement in short term linear growth in children with CD who enter remission but not in those who do not. It is also more likely to happen in children who are on immunosuppression and those in early puberty but seems to be relatively independent of steroid use. These findings suggest that growth improves as a result of several interrelated factors, including improved disease control. It was also interesting to note that the growth response to Adalimumab varied dependent on the reason for discontinuing Infliximab; those who had an allergic reaction to Infliximab fared best. Chapter 5 is Longitudinal observational prospective study of changes in physical growth, IGF-1 axis, bone health, body composition, muscle function and disease activity at baseline (BL), 2 weeks (2wk), 6 weeks (6wk), 6 and 12 months (6M & 12M) following biologic therapy in paediatric patients with CD. The aim of this longitudinal observational prospective study was to assess changes in physical growth, puberty, IGF-1 axis, bone health; body composition and muscle function following biologic therapy in paediatric patients with CD. Patients either newly diagnosed or patients with long-lasting disease in clinical relapse, who started treatment with biologic therapy as part of their standard clinical management, were recruited. A non significant improvement was observed in both ∆HtSDS and HVcms/yr at 12M as compared to BL. Individually, the majority of the children experienced improvement in clinical activity and improvement of the systemic inflammatory markers. A significant increase in biomarker of bone formation bone specific alkaline phosphatase (BALP) and a non-significant increase in a biomarker of bone resorption cross-linked c-terminal telopeptides (CTX-1) was observed from BL to 12M. This observation suggests the beneficial effect of biologic therapy on bone formation. This study showed a significant change in fat mass (FM (kg) in paediatric patients with CD following biologic therapy an effect that has not been reported extensively in previously published studies. A significant change in both fat free mass (FFM (kg) and fat free mass index (FFMI(kg/m²) shows that the treatment with anti-TNF-α therapy also had a significant impact on fat mass accrual. This is the first study that charts the effect of biologic therapy on changes in lower limb muscle function using jumping mechanography in paediatric patients with CD. A non significant change was observed in jump height (m), V-max (m/s), EFI (%), efficiency % from BL to 12M following biologic therapy and a significant increase in both F-max (kN), and P-max (kW) at 12M. Despite the fact that the increase in efficiency % of the movement was not significant but however, the change was likely to be through improvements in jump height and velocity thereby indicating higher muscular flexibility. These data are suggestive of an effect of biologic therapy on lower limb muscle function through improvements in the mechanical efficiency of the muscle.
15
Perry, Rebecca Jane. "An investigation of the effect of oestrogen on longitudinal growth." Thesis, University of Glasgow, 2010. http://theses.gla.ac.uk/1881/.
Full textAbstract:
In the absence of readily available physiological models of human growth, the effects of oestradiol on the human C28/I2 chondrocyte cell line were studied. The classical oestrogen receptors, ERα and ERβ, were shown to be expressed in both murine and human chondrocyte cell lines. Oestradiol and related chemicals, which alter the function of the oestrogen receptors (ER), were exploited to tease out the different functions of each ER in the growth plate. In the absence of foetal bovine serum, oestradiol had no effect on proliferation, differentiation or apoptosis of chondrocyte cells in monolayer culture or on the growth of the foetal metatarsal culture system. In addition, oestradiol did not convey a protective effect on chondrocytes exposed to the pro-inflammatory cytokines, tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) in monolayer culture. However, endogenous oestrogen appears to play an important role in maintaining chondrocyte proliferation in monolayer culture and mineralisation in metatarsal culture as reflected by the inhibitory effects of Faslodex, the non-specific ER antagonist, on chondrocytes and metatarsals in culture. In the presence of methyl-piperidino-pyrazole (MPP), a selective ERα antagonist, and raloxifene, a selective oestrogen receptor modulator with higher ERβ binding affinity, a reduction in chondrocyte proliferation and increase in apoptosis was observed in murine and human chondrocytes. Similarly, a marked reduction in linear growth occurred when foetal murine metatarsals were exposed to MPP and raloxifene in combination. A less marked reduction in growth was observed in MPP-treated metatarsals. These findings suggest that the oestrogen receptors may have opposing actions in the growth plate with ERβ acting like a brake on chondrocyte growth and ERα promoting growth. ERβ may regulate cell proliferation through control of cell cycle modulators affecting G1/S phase transition as MPP and raloxifene in combination reduced cyclin E and p53 levels on Western blot analysis. The aim of the second part of my thesis was to investigate the effect of oral oestrogen on linear growth in girls with primary ovarian insufficiency (POI). A retrospective review of girls with POI treated at a tertiary endocrinology clinic over an 11 year period was performed. As expected the majority of girls with POI had Turner syndrome (TS; 83.7%). Non-TS associated POI was rare and the leading cause was iatrogenic secondary to the effects of total body irradiation for bone marrow transplantation (12.8%). A significant proportion of these girls developed POI after full pubertal development so few cases were available to investigate the effect of oestrogen on growth. The oral oestrogen regime followed in individual patients with TS was highly variable so it was not possible to assess the effects of dose on height velocity or bone maturation in this retrospective audit. However, the second clinical study examined in detail the effect of oestrogen on growth in TS girls who received a standardised course of oral ethinylestradiol for pubertal induction and a standard dose of growth hormone (10 mg/m2/week). These girls participated in a prospective randomised double-blind placebo-controlled multi-centre study of growth promoting treatment in TS. The girls were initially randomised to oxandrolone or placebo at 9 years of age and further randomised to oral ethinylestradiol at 12 or 14 years of age. The results of this study are embargoed until published. The laboratory effects of oestradiol found in this thesis suggest that ERα may stimulate or maintain growth, and ERβ may inhibit growth. The obvious question is how these observations might be involved in the complex relationship between puberty, oestrogen and height velocity in humans. As affinity studies show that the half maximal effective concentration (EC50) of ERα is achieved at slightly lower concentrations of oestradiol than ERβ it is conceivable that the ERα effect could predominate at lower systemic oestradiol concentrations and that ERβ could become more important at higher concentrations for example in later puberty. Alternatively, it is possible that the expression of ERα reduces or ERβ increases in the growth plate after reaching peak height velocity.
16
Alamgir-Arif, Rizwana. "Three Essays on Human Capital, Child Care and Growth, and on Mobility." Thesis, Université d'Ottawa / University of Ottawa, 2012. http://hdl.handle.net/10393/22672.
Full textAbstract:
This thesis contributes to the fields of Public Economics and Development Economics by studying human capital formation under three scenarios. Each scenario is represented in an individual paper between Chapters 2 to 4 of this thesis.
Chapter 2 examines the effect of child care financing, through human capital formation, on growth and welfare. There is an extensive literature on the benefits of child care affordability on labour market participation. The overall inference that can be drawn is that the availability and affordability of appropriate child care may enhance parental time spent outside the home in furthering their economic opportunities. In another front, the endogenous growth literature exemplifies the merits of subsidizing human capital in generating growth. Again, other contributions demonstrate the negative implications of taxes on the returns from human capital on long run growth and welfare. This paper assesses the long run welfare implications of child care subsidies financed by proportional income taxes when human capital serves as the engine of growth. More specifically, using an overlapping-generations framework (OLG) with endogenous labour choice, we study the implications of a distortionary wage income tax on growth and welfare. When the revenues from proportional income taxes are channelled towards improving economic opportunities for both work and schooling investments in the form of child care subsidies, long run physical and human capital stock may increase. A higher level of growth may ensue leading to higher welfare.
Chapter 3 answers the question of how child care subsidization works in the interest of skill formation, and specifically, whether child care subsidization policies can work to the effect of human capital subsidies. Ample studies have highlighted the significance of early childhood learning through child care in determining the child’s longer-term outcomes. The general conclusion has been that the quality of life for a child, higher earnings during later life, as well as the contributions the child makes to society as an adult can be traced back to exposures during the first few years of life. Early childhood education obtained through child care has been found to play a pivotal role in the human capital base amongst children that can benefit them in the long run. Based on this premise, the paper develops a simple Overlapping Generations Model (OLG) to find out the implications of early learning on future investments in human capital. It is shown that higher costs of child care will reduce skill investments of parents. Also, for some positive child care cost, higher human capital obtained through early childhood education can induce further skill investments amongst individuals with a higher willingness to substitute consumption intertemporally. Finally, intervention that can internalize the intra-generational human capital externalities arising from parental time spent outside the home - for which care/early learning is required to be purchased for the child - can unambiguously lead to higher skill investments by all individuals. Chapter 3 therefore proposes policy intervention, such as child care subsidization, as the effect of such will be akin to a human capital subsidy.
The objective of Chapter 4 is to understand the implications of inter-regional mobility on higher educational investments of individuals and to study in detail the impact of mobility on government spending for education under two particular scenarios – one in which human capital externalities are non-localized and spill over to other regions (e.g. in the form of R&D), and another in which the externalities are localized and remain within the region. It is shown that mobility enhances private investments in education, and all else equal, welfare should be higher with increased migration. The impacts on government educational expenditures are studied and some policy implications are drawn. In general, with non-localized externalities, all public expenditures decline under full-migration. Finally under localized externalities, the paper finds that governments will increase their financing of education to increasingly mobile individuals only when agglomeration benefits outweigh congestion costs from increases in regional population.
17
Bambrick, Hilary Jane, and Hilary Bambrick@anu edu au. "Child growth and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in a Queensland Aboriginal Community." The Australian National University. Faculty of Arts, 2003. http://thesis.anu.edu.au./public/adt-ANU20050905.121211.
Full textAbstract:
Globally, the prevalence of Type 2 diabetes is rising. The most affected populations are those that have undergone recent and rapid transition towards a Western lifestyle, characterised by energy-dense diets and physical inactivity.¶
Two major hypotheses have attempted to explain the variation in diabetes prevalence, both between and within populations, beyond the contributions made by adult lifestyle. The thrifty genotype hypothesis proposes that some populations are genetically well adapted to surviving in a subsistence environment, and are predisposed to develop diabetes when the dietary environment changes to one that is fat and carbohydrate rich. The programming hypothesis focuses on the developmental environment, particularly on prenatal and early postnatal conditions: nutritional deprivation in utero and early postnatal life, measured by low birthweight and disrupted child growth, is proposed to alter metabolism permanently so that risk of diabetes is increased with subsequent exposure to an energy-dense diet. Both hypotheses emphasise discord between adaptation (genetic or developmental) and current environment, and both now put forward insulin resistance as a likely mechanism for predisposition.¶
Diabetes contributes significantly to morbidity and mortality among Australia’s Indigenous population. Indigenous babies are more likely to be low birthweight, and typical patterns of child growth include periods of faltering and rapid catch-up. Although there have been numerous studies in other populations, the programming hypothesis has not previously been tested in an Australian Indigenous community. The framework of the programming hypothesis is thus expanded to consider exposure of whole populations to adverse prenatal and postnatal environments, and the influence this may have on diabetes prevalence.¶
The present study took place in Cherbourg, a large Aboriginal community in southeast Queensland with a high prevalence of diabetes. Study participants were adults with diagnosed diabetes and a random sample of adults who had never been diagnosed with diabetes. Data were collected on five current risk factors for diabetes (general and central obesity, blood pressure, age and family history), in addition to fasting blood glucose levels. A lifestyle survey was also conducted. Participants’ medical records detailing weight growth from birth to five years were analysed with regard to adult diabetes risk to determine whether childhood weight and rate of weight gain were associated with subsequent diabetes. Adult lifestyle factors were
xiialso explored to determine whether variation in nutrition and physical activity was related to level of diabetes risk.¶
Approximately 20% of adults in Cherbourg have diagnosed diabetes. Prevalence may be as high as 38.5% in females and 42% in males if those who are high-risk (abnormal fasting glucose and three additional factors) are included. Among those over 40 years, total prevalence is estimated to be 51% for females and 59% for males.¶
Patterns of early childhood growth may contribute to risk of diabetes among adults. In particular, relatively rapid weight growth to five years is associated with both general and central obesity among adult women. This lends some qualified support to the programming hypothesis as catch-up growth has previously been incorporated into the model; however, although the most consistent association was found among those who gained weight more rapidly, it was also found that risk is increased among children who are heavier at any age.¶
No consistent associations were found between intrauterine growth retardation (as determined by lower than median birthweight and higher than median weight growth velocity to one and three months) and diabetes risk among women or men. A larger study sample with greater statistical power may have yielded less ambiguous results.¶
Among adults, levels of physical activity may be more important than nutritional intake in moderating diabetes risk, although features of diet, such as high intake of simple carbohydrates, may contribute to risk in the community overall, especially in the context of physical inactivity. A genetic component is not ruled out. Two additional areas which require further investigation include stress and high rates of infection, both of which are highly relevant to the study community, and may contribute to the insulin resistance syndrome.¶
Some accepted thresholds indicating increased diabetes risk may not be appropriate in this population. Given the relationship between waist circumference and other diabetes risk factors and the propensity for central fat deposition among women even with low body mass index (BMI), it is recommended that the threshold where BMI is considered a risk be lowered by 5kg/m2 for women, while no such recommendation is made for men.¶
There are a number of social barriers to better community health, including attitudes to exercise and obesity, patterns of alcohol and tobacco use and consumption of fresh foods. Some of these barriers are exacerbated by gender roles and expectations.¶
18
Ruiz, Ernesto. "Growing Children: The relationship between food insecurity and child growth and development." Scholar Commons, 2014. https://scholarcommons.usf.edu/etd/5299.
Full textAbstract:
This dissertation examined the relationship between food security status and cultural congruence and indicators of child growth and development in a rural mountain town in Costa Rica. Results show that children from food secure households are significantly shorter and shorter-legged than their food insecure counterparts. It is theorized that these findings correspond to low quality diets associated with increasing commodification of food systems in rural Costa Rica. Identity-based mechanisms are discussed as potential factors contributing to the increasing commodification of life through the encroachment of the global market economy.
19
Salazar, Torres Virgilio Mariano. "Intimate partner violence in Nicaragua : studies on ending abuse, child growth, and contraception." Doctoral thesis, Umeå universitet, Epidemiologi och global hälsa, 2011. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:umu:diva-43390.
Full textAbstract:
Background: Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a pervasive, worldwide public health problem and one of the most common violations of human rights. The aim of this thesis were twofold: (i) to study the process and factors related to ending of IPV of Nicaraguan women and (ii) to examine to what extent IPV exposure is associated with the child linear growth and women’s contraceptive use after pregnancy. Methods: Data were collected from a panel study which followed 398 women who were inquired about their IPV exposure during pregnancy and at follow-up a median of 43 months after delivery. Three hundred seventy five of their children were available for anthropometric assessment. Thirteen in-depth interviews were conducted with women exposed to physical/sexual IPV during pregnancy but not at follow-up. For analysis both quantitative and qualitative methodologies were used. Results: Women experienced four patterns of abuse: never abused, ending abuse, continued abuse, and new abuse. Of the women who experienced any IPV before or during pregnancy, 59% (95% CI 52-65%) reported no abuse at follow-up (135/229). Women exposed to a continued abuse pattern and those exposed to any IPV, emotional or physical IPV at follow-up had higher odds of reversible contraceptive use. Further, exposure to any IPV and controlling behavior by a partner during pregnancy impaired the index child linear growth. Girls whose mothers had low social resources during pregnancy were the most affected. Women felt that being inquired about IPV while pregnant contributed to process of ending the abuse. Ending IPV was experienced as a process with three phases: “I came to a turning point,” “I changed,” and the “Relationship ended or changed.” Successful strategies to ending abuse mainly involved utilizing informal networks. Ending IPV did not always mean ending the relationship. IPV awareness, severity of the abuse, and economic independence were individual factors associated with ending of abuse. At the relationship level, diminishing or no exposure to controlling behavior by their partner was a key element. At the community level, a supportive and less tolerant to IPV environment as well as exposure to IPV inquiry during pregnancy facilitated the process of ending abuse. Conclusion: The study found that IPV exposure is associated with the children’s linear growth and women’s reversible contraceptive use. In addition, it is clear that gender norms regarding IPV are not static and that they play an important role in facilitating the process ending the abuse by increasing abused women’s access to emotional and material support. Our results emphasize the relevance of improving public services response to IPV.
20
Mulligan, Jean. "The short normal child : influences on the growth pathway and final height outcome." Thesis, University of Southampton, 2002. https://eprints.soton.ac.uk/426839/.
Full textAbstract:
Short stature is a common reason for a child to be referred for specialist opinion. Most will have no underlying pathology but dismissing a short child as normal may impose future suffering as the short adult is perceived to be psychosocially disadvantaged and to face greater health risks. Adult height, however, cannot be predicted from childhood height with any degree of certainty. Growth begins at the moment of conception and ends with epiphyseal closure some two decades later. Height, however, is not accumulated at a fixed rate throughout the growing process but consists of four distinct phases: foetal, infancy, childhood and pubertal. The intensity and duration of each phase is subject to wide variation and poor growth in any one phase does not inevitably compromise final height. To a large extent, both stature and the tempo of growth are genetically determined but social and environmental factors can have a modifying effect. For some children, poor environmental conditions can cause growth to falter but equally an improvement in quality may result in catch-up growth. The Wessex Growth Study is the first study to follow the growth of an unselected population of short normal children from school entry until final height together with controls of'average' height. A great deal of background information was also collected for each child including parental heights, birth history, social & family background, and medical history. To determine which short normal children become short adults this thesis has compared the patterns of growth of short normal children with their average height controls and assessed the impact of genetic and environmental variables on the growth pathway and final height. Before puberty, short children grew more slowly than those who are taller but the magnitude and duration of the pubertal spurt and the adolescent height gain were similar for short and control girls, and for short and control boys. The pubertal spurt of short normal boys, however, occurred, on average, some six months later than expected. Interestingly, although short normal girls had similar birth weights, skeletal delay and were just as likely as short normal boys to be considered short for family, the timing, magnitude and duration of their pubertal spurt were comparable with the control girls and with Tanner's standards. The mean height centile of both groups improved suggesting a continuing secular trend in adult stature within the UK. Nevertheless, the increase in relative height was greater for the short children implying some degree of catch-up growth, especially for boys. Indeed, short normal girls were three times more likely than short normal boys to attain an adult height below the 0.4^ centile and below their genetic potential. Some short children have become taller adults than others but in relation to their peers, a substantial number have remained short and failed to reach their genetic potential. Growth is influenced by many factors, genetic, social, environmental and emotional, but few variables were found to be predictors of the adult height of short normal children and much of the variance remains unexplained. This thesis demonstrates the individuality of the growth pathway and the difficulty in identifying those who will become short adults. Recognising which children might benefit from intervention requires a multi-professional team including the growth specialist, social worker and psychologist.
21
Medhin, Tesfay Girmay. "Modelling the effect of common mental disorders on child growth in Butajira, Ethiopia." Thesis, King's College London (University of London), 2012. https://kclpure.kcl.ac.uk/portal/en/theses/modelling-the-effect-of-common-mental-disorders-on-child-growth-in-butajira-ethiopia(400d1ebc-cd49-4b0d-8f84-25127d376d04).html.
Full textAbstract:
Background: Evidence about the effects of perinatal common mental disorders (CMD) on child growth is consistent in South Asian studies but not in Sub Saharan Africa. Aims: To (1) assess the effect of CMD on child growth in Ethiopia using traditional analysis, latent growth modelling (LGM) and multilevel growth modelling (MGM) techniques, and (2) evaluate the effects of other pre-specified risk factors on infant growth using these three modelling techniques Methods: A population based cohort was established between July 2005 and February 2006 in a demographic surveillance site in Butajira, Ethiopia, recruiting 1065 women in pregnancy and followed them with their newly born infants. Main exposure was perinatal CMD measured with locally validated self reporting questionnaire (SRQ-20). The women were interviewed at recruitment, birth, two and 12 months postnatal. In addition to birthweight, infant growth was monitored at two, six, nine, 12 and 18 months of age and standardized using 2006 WHO reference standards. Logistic regression and linear regression were used to model binary and continous infant growth outcomes, respectively, at two, six and twelve months of age. Furthermore, infant growth over the first 18 months of age and predictors of growth patters of these infants were investigated using MGM and LGM. Results: Postnatal and persistent CMD were significant risk factors of compromised initial infant length, and part of the effect on the total length gain was mediated through diarrhoeal episodes. Early infant feeding practices and birthweight did not mediate the effects of CMD on infant growth. Boys perform better in initial weight (in kg) and length (in cm), but worse in initial values of standardized growth measures. Low birthweight and reduced maternal mid upper arm circumference during pregnancy were significant predictors of compromised initial growth.
22
Ahmid, Mahjouba A. E. "Bone health and body composition of children and adolescents with growth hormone deficiency." Thesis, University of Glasgow, 2017. http://theses.gla.ac.uk/7896/.
Full textAbstract:
Childhood onset growth hormone deficiency (CO-GHD) may contribute to low bone mass and alterations to body composition. This thesis consists of a series of studies utilising dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), peripheral quantitative computerized tomography (pQCT) and biochemical assessment of bone health and body composition of CO-GHD. In addition, metabolic profiles, glucose metabolism as well as quality of life have been studied in these subjects. Furthermore, an interventional study of weight bearing exercise (WBE) was performed to explore its role in influencing the bone health of children and adolescents with CO-GHD. Chapter 1, relevant literature reviews explore: bone structure, growth, development and strength; GH/IGF-1 system and its actions; CO-GHD and its impacts during childhood and transition; and WBE and its mechanism and impacts on bone health. Chapter 2 presents the rationale and specific aims of this thesis. Chapter 3, a retrospective multicentre review of management of young adults with CO-GHD in four paediatric centres in Scotland during transition. Medical records of 130 eligible CO-GHD adolescents (78 males), who attained final height between 2005-2013 were reviewed. Of the 130, 74/130(57%) had GH axis re-evaluation by stimulation tests /IGF-1 measurements. Of those, 61/74(82%) remained GHD with 51/74(69%) restarting adult rhGH. Predictors of persistent GHD included an organic hypothalamic-pituitary disorder and multiple pituitary hormone deficiencies (MPHD). Despite clinical guidelines, there was significant variation in the management of CO-GHD in young adulthood across Scotland. Chapter 4, a cross-sectional control study of bone DXA measurements in (n=21) subjects with CO-GHD treated with rhGH and had attained final height from 2005 to 2013 in a single tertiary paediatric centre compared to (n= 21) heights/age matched healthy controls. By applying different models of DXA adjustment, our analysis revealed lower TB-BMC for bone area in males with CO-GHD and lower LS-BMAD SDS in females with CO-GHD compared to matched controls. In addition, subjects with CO-GHD had lower LM for height and higher FM for height compared to controls, and this was more pronounced in males than females (p=0.04). The time of onset and aetiology of CO-GHD have a larger influence on accrual of bone mass in these patients. These findings indicate that adolescents with CO-GHD have a low bone mass, despite prior long term rhGH replacement therapy. In chapter 5, we investigated bone health of subjects with CO-GHD at time of initial evaluation and retesting at final height. A total of 25 children (first time assessment group) undergoing GH stimulation tests for investigation of short stature (naive GHD-15, normal-10), and 11adolescents with CO-GHD (retesting group) undergoing biochemical re-evaluation at final height after withdrawal of rhGH therapy (persistent GHD-7, GH-sufficient-4) were recruited from Royal Hospital for Children between 2012-2013. By using further bone health assessment methods in addition to DXA (including p.QCT, mechanography, bone profiles and biomarkers), the bone density and body composition did not differ when we compared GHD to matched height but normal GH at initial evaluation and retesting. However, naive GHD had lower muscle force as assessed by mechanography compared to the normal. In addition, bone resorption biomarker CTX was significantly higher in naive GHD vs. normal and that was significantly correlated to PTH levels in both first time assessment and retesting groups. Our results suggest that muscle force and serum PTH may be important determinants of bone health in subjects with CO-GHD. Chapter 6 investigates lipids, adipokines (leptin- adiponectin- resistin) and glucose homeostasis and their relationship with bone and body composition in children and adolescents with CO-GHD at times of initial evaluation and retesting at final height (same population as chapter 5). Lipid profiles, adipokines and glucose homeostasis were not different between those with GHD and those who had normal GH levels across the groups of first time assessment and retesting. In the retesting group, those who were older at the time of diagnosis of CO-GHD with a shorter duration of rhGH therapy were more likely to have higher cholesterol(r=0.9, p<0.001), leptin (r=0.8, p<0.001), and lower osteoclacin (r=-0.7, p=0.01) at final height. Leptin levels correlated positively with osteocalcin at diagnosis (r=0.51, p=0.01) but inversely at retesting (r=-0.91, p<0.01). The conclusion was that the timing and duration of childhood rhGH therapy might influence adiposity parameters and bone metabolism in subjects with CO-GHD. In chapter 7 the study participants of chapter 5 were asked to complete either Short Form-36 (SF-36) or Adult Growth Hormone Deficiency Assessment (AGHDA) quality of life (QoL) questionnaires at the time of assessment of their GH axis. Our analysis showed that the overall QoL was not altered in children with naive GHD with a total score of SF-36 [93 (77, 96) naive GHD vs. 90 (84, 93) normal, P=0.56] (higher scores reflect better QoL). However, naive GHD had less energy and vitality scores compared with normal (75 (65, 100) vs. 95 (65,100) respectively, p=0.04), when the normal scored lower in the subscale of emotional well-being compared to those with naive GHD (78 (55, 84) vs. 90 (68, 96) respectively, p<0.001). In the retesting group, those with persistent GHD scored better in the AGHDA than GH sufficient (6 points (2, 8) vs. 9 points (7, 17) respectively, though not significant (p= 0.10) (higher scores reflect poorer QoL). Unexpectedly, subscale analysis showed that GH-sufficient subjects significantly lacked energy and complained of tiredness compared to those who were confirmed to have persistent GHD (5 points (3, 6) vs. 1 point (0, 1) respectively, p= 0.03). Further studies to validate QoL specific instruments in this population are needed with greater insight to elucidate factors that modify the relationship between GH status and QoL in children and adolescents. Chapter 8 was a prospective intervention, randomised controlled study of 14 subjects among the first time assessment group (GHD-10, normal-4) and five subjects with CO-GHD among retesting group (persistent GHD-4, GH-sufficent-1). Subjects were randomised into either an exercise intervention group (EX) (25 jumps off 25 cm platform step/three days/week for six months) or a control, in addition to rhGH being prescribed. The results of this study were limited by the small sample size and poor compliance. Therefore, there were insufficient data to recommend the use of weight bearing exercise in the absence of rhGH in children and adolescents with CO-GHD. Further studies with adequate sample size that can more rigorously exam the optimal exercise interventions are needed. Chapter 9 discusses the main findings of each chapter in this thesis and outlines potential limitations of the thesis methodology, and some important and interesting areas for future research in children and adolescents with CO-GHD.
23
Nathan, Indira. "The dietary intake and growth of vegetarian children (aged 7-11 years) compared with omnivores in North West England." Thesis, Liverpool John Moores University, 1995. http://researchonline.ljmu.ac.uk/5523/.
Full textAbstract:
During a one year longitudinal study, the dietary intake and growth of 50 vegetarian children aged 7-11 years was compared with that of 50 age-, sex- and race-matched omnivores. Diet was assessed at 6 month intervals using three, 3-day diet diaries and follow-up interviews. Anthropometric measurements (height, weight, mid-arm circumference, biceps and triceps skinfolds) were similarly taken 3 times. Multiple stepwise regression was used to control for non nutritional factors that affect growth. A questionnaire was administered at baseline to all children and their parents, to determine socio-economic status, health related behaviour and parents, ' height. Finger-prick blood samples were obtained from a sub-sample to measure haemoglobin (n=35 pairs) and cholesterol (n=32 pairs). Activity profiles were obtained using 12 hour heart-rate telemetry (n=20 pairs). Vegetarian and omnivorous groups were similar for socioeconomic group and health related behaviour. The predicted growth increment (0.47cm) of the vegetarians was significantly greater (p=0.05)' than that of the omnivores. Energy and sugars intakes of the vegetarians were significantly lower than those of the omnivores, fat and iron intakes were similar, whilst P: S ratio, NSP and calcium intakes were higher. The mean (SD) haemoglobin level of the vegetarians (11.8 (0.2g/dl)) was significantly below (p=0.04) that of the omnivores (12.4 (0.2)g/dl) but cholesterol levels were similar. Heart-rates were slightly higher for the vegetarians than the omnivores. The diet of the vegetarian children more closely resembled current recommendations although they need to be as vigilant as omnivores to reduce their intake of fat, and care is needed to ensure optimal iron status. The results of this study suggest that vegetarian children who include dairy products grow at least as well as those children who eat meat.
24
Rocha, Priscyla Bones. "Velocidade de crescimento durante os primeiros três meses de vida de crianças geradas em ambientes intrauterinos adversos." reponame:Biblioteca Digital de Teses e Dissertações da UFRGS, 2015. http://hdl.handle.net/10183/139768.
Full textAbstract:
Introdução: Estudos vêm demonstrando que o ambiente intrauterino influencia no crescimento fetal e extrauterino, repercutindo no perfil de saúde em longo prazo. Objetivo: Comparar a velocidade de crescimento durante os primeiros três meses de vida de crianças geradas em ambientes intrauterinos considerados adversos. Métodos: Trata-se de um estudo longitudinal prospectivo controlado desenvolvido com pares de mãe-filho residentes em Porto Alegre/RS. Cinco grupos de exposição foram estudados (diabetes, hipertensão arterial, tabaco e restrição do crescimento intrauterino) e um controle. O crescimento foi avaliado em cinco momentos (pós-parto, sete dias, quinze dias, um mês e três meses) utilizando os índices peso para idade (P/I), comprimento para idade (E/I) e Índice de Massa Corpórea para idade (IMC/I). A análise de regressão Equações de Estimativas Generalizadas foi utilizada para avaliar a relação entre o ambiente intrauterino e o crescimento. A velocidade de crescimento foi avaliada com um e três meses, utilizando a diferença entre as medidas de escore z (delta). Identificou-se a influência de fatores sociodemográficos, maternos e neonatais no peso ao nascer e na velocidade de crescimento. Resultados: Os fatores que influenciaram no peso ao nascer foram: paridade, IMC pré-gestacional, ganho de peso durante a gestação, tipo de parto e sexo. Ao utilizar o escore z de P/I, verificou-se que os grupos tabaco e restrito apresentaram médias significativamente menores do que o controle. De zero a um mês, a velocidade de ganho de peso entre os restritos foi significativamente maior do que os demais. De zero a três meses, só não foi significativamente maior do que o grupo hipertensão arterial. A velocidade de ganho de comprimento de zero a um e de zero a três meses foi significativamente maior no grupo restrito ao comparar com o controle. Ao utilizar o escore z de IMC/I, os grupos tabaco e restrito apresentaram médias significativamente menores do que o grupo controle. A velocidade de ganho de IMC de zero a um mês do grupo restrito só não foi significativamente maior do que o grupo hipertensão arterial. De zero a três meses, foi significativamente maior do que todos os demais. Os fatores que influenciaram na velocidade de crescimento foram: situação conjugal, IMC pré-gestacional, ganho de peso durante a gestação e internação hospitalar da criança. Conclusão: O presente estudo identificou que a velocidade de crescimento nos três primeiros meses de vida é influenciada por ambientes intrauterinos adversos e diferentes fatores gestacionais e neonatais estão envolvidos neste contexto. O grupo restrito foi o que apresentou os escores médios mais baixos e a maior recuperação. O grupo hipertensão arterial, que possuiu escores médios negativos, apresentou velocidade de ganho de peso positiva durante os primeiros três meses, sinalizando recuperação. Já o grupo tabaco, que apresentou escores médios negativos, não possuiu recuperação significativa. Os achados deste estudo poderão auxiliar na elaboração de estratégias de prevenção do crescimento acelerado em crianças expostas a fatores considerados de risco. Intervenções realizadas na infância inicial poderão refletir no perfil de saúde e na carga de doenças durante o curso da vida destas crianças.Introduction: Studies has demonstrated that the intrauterine environment influences on fetal and extrauterine growth, reflecting the long-term health profile. Objective: To compare the growth velocity during the first three months of life among children born in intrauterine environments considered adverse. Methods: It is a prospective controlled longitudinal study developed with mother-infant pairs living in Porto Alegre/RS. Four exposure groups were studied (diabetes, hypertension, smoking and intrauterine growth restricted) and a control. Growth was evaluated in five moments (postpartum, seven days, fifteen days, one month and three months) using the weight for age (W/A), height for age (H/A) and Body Mass Index for age (BMI/A). Regression analysis with generalized estimating equations were used to evaluate the relationship between the intrauterine environment and growth. The growth velocity was performed with one and three months using the difference between the z-score measures (delta). Were identified the influence of sociodemographic factors on maternal and neonatal birth weight and growth velocity. Results: Factors that influence the birth weight were: parity, pre-pregnancy BMI, weight gain during pregnancy, type of delivery and sex. By using the z score for W/A, it was found that tobacco and intrauterine growth restricted groups had significantly lower average than the control. From zero to one month, the weight gain velocity between intrauterine growth restricted was significantly higher than the others. From zero to three months, weight gain velocity of the intrauterine growth restricted group was significantly higher than the other groups, except hypertension. The length gain velocity from zero to one and three months was significantly higher in the intrauterine growth restricted vs. control. By using the BMI/A z score, tobacco and intrauterine growth restricted groups had significantly lower average than the control group. From zero to one month, only BMI gain speed intrauterine growth restricted group was not significantly higher than the hypertension group. From zero to three months, was significantly higher than the others. The factors that influenced the growth velocity were: marital status, pre-pregnancy BMI, weight gain during pregnancy and the child's hospitalization. Conclusion: The present study identified that the growth velocity in the first three months of life is influenced by adverse intrauterine environment and different gestational and neonatal factors are involved in this context. The intrauterine growth restricted group was the one with the lowest average scores and higher recovery. The hypertension group, which owned negative average scores showed positive weight gain velocity during the first three months, signaling recovery. Otherwise, the tobacco group, which showed negative average scores, did not possess significant recovery. The findings of this study will assist in developing prevention strategies in the accelerated growth in children exposed to the risk factors. Interventions in early childhood may reflect the health profile and burden of disease during the course of life of these children.
25
Nielsen, Susan Bjerregaard. "The First-Feed Study : milk intake, energy balance and growth in infants exclusively breast-fed to 6 months of age." Thesis, University of Glasgow, 2013. http://theses.gla.ac.uk/4378/.
Full textAbstract:
The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends exclusive breast-feeding until 6 months of age, where exclusive breast-feeding is defined as giving human breast milk only with no other foods or fluids. This recommendation has since been adopted by many countries. A systematic review of studies in exclusively breast-fed infants by Reilly and colleagues found a mean milk intake at 6 months of age that seemed too low to cover infant energy requirements. However, the evidence was relatively scarce, only from cross-sectional studies and based on the method of test-weighing, which has been criticised for under-estimating milk intake. Furthermore, longitudinal studies indicated no marked increase in milk intake over time, but these studies did not include measurements at 6 months of age. Reilly and Wells proposed the hypothesis that for exclusive breast-feeding to adequately cover infant energy requirements to 6 months of age, either 1) infants had to be unusually small, or 2) breast milk energy content had to be unusually high, or 3) milk intake had to be unusually high. The Reilly-Wells hypothesis was backed up by evidence of a world-wide low prevalence of exclusive breast-feeding to 6 months, and by studies consistently reporting a maternally perceived insufficient milk supply as a major reason for mothers to cease exclusive breast-feeding and introduce either formula supplementation or complementary foods. Based on the Reilly-Wells hypothesis, the research question for the First-Feed study was: To explore how exclusive breast-feeding to 6 months of age is achievable – mainly from an energy balance point of view. The First-Feed study tested the hypothesis that successful exclusive breast-feeding to 6 months of age would include 1) infants that were small and/or growing slowly, 2) milk intakes and/or milk energy content that were higher than literature values and increasing over time, 3) infant energy requirements that were lower than reference values, and/or 4) infant feeding practices that were strained by very frequent and/or very time consuming breast-feeds. The study was designed as the first longitudinal observational study to use an isotopic method to measure milk intake and energy balance in exclusively breast-fed infants to 6 months of age, and it evaluated parts of the methodology employed in the study, in order to appreciate the results in light of the methodological strengths and limitations. The First-Feed study found that infants were overall of normal size and growing well relative to WHO Child Growth Standards. Metabolisable milk intakes were significantly higher than the values obtained by Reilly and colleagues at both 3½ and 6 months of age, and increased significantly over time. Infant energy requirements, determined as metabolisable energy intake, was significantly higher than references for mean energy requirements at 3½ months of age, while it was appropriate at 6 months of age. Breast-feeding practices showed no change over time in feeding frequency, but a significant decrease in time spent on breast-feeds. The First-Feed study had several limitations. Firstly, due to the inclusion criteria of exclusive breast-feeding, the participants were characterised as an affluent and well-supported sample of mother-infant pairs, who were highly motivated to breast-feed. Therefore, the generalisability of the present study to other populations should be accepted with caution. Secondly, the anthropometric measurements were prone to imprecision, as is often the case in field studies. Thirdly, the imprecision of the dose-to-infant procedure for administration of doubly-labelled water considerably reduced the precision of the doubly-labelled water method. This, in addition to the biological variation, increased the variation in some outcome variables. However, the First-Feed study is unique as it is the first to use a more objective method to measure milk intake in a longitudinal design, and on a sample of infants with a very high success rate of exclusive breast-feeding to 6 months of age. The WHO changed the recommendation on exclusive breast-feeding from 4 – 6 months to 6 months (exactly) in 2001. Since then, many resources have been invested in breast-feeding promotion, but rates of initiation, duration and exclusivity is only slowly improving. The present study supports that exclusive breast-feeding can adequately cover infant energy requirements to 6 months of age - even without undue strain on breast-feeding practices and even in mothers where initial breast-feeding problems were very common. However, the present study found a wide variation in both infant size, milk intake and energy requirements. It therefore begs the question if a recommendation based on one age-point (6 months exactly) is appropriate given the vast biological variation in variables that are important for the adequacy of exclusive breast-feeding, or if the recommendation should be adapted to include developmental milestones (e.g. oral motor skills) indicative of readiness for complementary foods.
26
Veena, Sargoor. "Cognitive performance during childhood and early adolescence in India : relationships to birth size, maternal nutrition during pregnancy and postnatal growth." Thesis, University of Southampton, 2015. https://eprints.soton.ac.uk/385138/.
Full text
27
Choi, Yoon Kyung. "Child care effects and attachment continuity on the growth of social competence and academic achievement of children." Diss., Connect to online resource - MSU authorized users, 2008.
Find full textAbstract:
Thesis (Ph.D.)--Michigan State University. Dept. of Family and Child Ecology, 2008.Title from PDF t.p. (viewed on Sept. 9, 2009) Includes bibliographic references (p. 160-188). Also issued in print.
28
Zijlstra, Claudette. "A study of child growth amongst urban refugees under 2 years old in Cairo /." Thesis, McGill University, 2006. http://digitool.Library.McGill.CA:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=101697.
Full textAbstract:
Little is known about the nutritional status of urban refugees. This study assesses the prevalence of malnutrition in a sample of refugee children in Cairo and analyses associations between growth indicators and their determinants. This cross-sectional study surveyed a sample of African refugee children (n=201) under two years of age. In home interviews, height and weight were measured and maternal and household characteristics, handwashing and breastfeeding practices and recent child illness were assessed. In this sample, 13% of refugee children were stunted, 4% were underweight and 8% were wasted. Multivariate analysis revealed that growth was independently and positively associated with having a flush toilet, good handwashing practices, and not recently having fever. Older children were significantly smaller than reference children of the same age, but child age was not associated with malnutrition. Further monitoring and assessment of long-term growth and development of refugee children in Cairo is required. Good child care practices should be promoted in the community.
29
Cofie, Agartha. "An integrated education intervention to improve infant and young child nutrition growth in Ghana." Thesis, McGill University, 2013. http://digitool.Library.McGill.CA:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=117109.
Full textAbstract:
Inappropriate complementary feeding (CF) practices and inadequate nutrient intakes contribute to the high level of malnutrition among children 6-24 months of age in Ghana. In communities where the economy is agricultural-based, interventions aimed at addressing malnutrition among infants and young children may need to focus on both food production and caregivers' nutrition knowledge. The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of a combined nutrition and agricultural education intervention, delivered through community health workers and agricultural extension agents, to improve infant and young child diet and growth in the Upper Manya Krobo district of Ghana. The current CF practices, and facilitators and barriers of CF education were identified through in-depth interviews of community health workers (n = 28) and staff of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (n = 3), as well as three focus group discussions with caregivers (n = 22) of children 6-24 months of age. The Trials of Improved Practices method was used to test the feasibility of potential nutrition education messages. This process guided the development of the subsequent intervention. A cluster-randomised study design was used to compare the feeding practices, nutrient intakes, and growth of infants and young children (n = 367) in two intervention groups (combined nutrition and agricultural education [IE], nutrition education only [NE]), and a control group [CT]. Each child's diet and anthropometric data, and household demographic and agricultural production information were collected at baseline and at three-month intervals for nine months. Food insecurity can influence the types and amounts of food that young children consume, which may then affect their nutritional status and health. Therefore, the level of household food insecurity during the pre-harvest season and its relation with infant morbidity and growth were also assessed (n = 333). The results indicate that in this rural setting, 21.6% of households experienced food insecurity in the previous month. Household food insecurity was associated with respiratory infections in the second half of infancy, but not with diarrhea or stunting. Inclusion of animal source products, fruits, and vegetables in young children's diet was not common in the area. Poverty and maternal time constraints, and lack of teaching materials and language barrier, were identified as challenges to optimal CF practices and provision of CF education, respectively. Almost half of intervention mothers (45%) never attended an education session. Children in the IE were twice as likely to meet the minimum meal frequency compared to the CT children (aOR = 2.62; 95% CI; 1.11, 6.16), but energy, vitamin A, calcium, and iron intakes from complementary foods, and growth indicators did not differ among the three groups. Additionally, children of mothers who attended at least one nutrition education session in the IE group tended to receive the minimum acceptable diet (aOR = 2.30, 95% CI; 0.98, 5.39, p = 0.055) compared to children in the CT group at the end of the study. There were no differences between the two intervention groups, and feeding practices among children in the NE group did not improve at the end of the study. Future education interventions will need to increase the involvement of participants at the development phase of interventions, as a way of improving participation among caregivers of infants and young children.Des pratiques inappropriées d'alimentation de complément et des apports nutritionnels inadéquats contribuent au taux élevé de malnutrition parmi les enfants de 6 à 24 mois au Ghana. Dans les communautés où l'économie est basée sur l'agriculture, les interventions doivent mettre l'accent sur la production alimentaire et les connaissances des parents ou personnes qui s'occupent d'enfants (PPE) pour réduire la malnutrition chez les nourrissons et les jeunes enfants. Le but de la présente étude est d'évaluer l'efficacité d'une intervention combinée d'éducation nutritionnelle et agricole implémentée à travers des agents de santé communautaire et des agents de vulgarisation agricole pour améliorer l'alimentation et la croissance des nourrissons et des jeunes enfants dans la zone de Upper Manya au Ghana. Les pratiques d'alimentation de complément ainsi que les barrières et facilitateurs à l'éducation sur l'alimentation de complément ont été identifiées aux travers d'entrevues approfondies avec les agents de santé communautaire (n=28) et le personnel du ministère de l'alimentation et de l'agriculture (n=3) et à travers trois groupes de discussions avec les PPE (n=22) d'enfants de 6 à 24 mois. La méthode des essais pour de meilleures pratiques (Trials of Improved Practices method) a été utilisée pour évaluer la faisabilité de potentiels messages d'éducation nutritionnelle. Ce processus a guidé le développement de l'intervention ultérieure. Une étude randomisée par grappes a permis de comparer les pratiques d'alimentation, les apports nutritionnels et la croissance des nourrissons et des jeunes enfants (n=367) dans deux groupes d'intervention (éducation nutritionnelle et agricole [IE]; éducation nutritionnelle seule [NE]) et un groupe contrôle [CT]. L'alimentation et les données anthropométriques de chaque enfant, les données démographiques des ménages ainsi que de l'information sur la production agricole ont été recueillies à l'étude de base puis à trois mois d'intervalle pendant neuf mois. L'insécurité alimentaire peut avoir une influence sur le type et la quantité d'aliments consommés par les jeunes enfants, ce qui peut affecter leur état nutritionnel et de santé. Par conséquent, le niveau d'insécurité alimentaire des ménages avant les récoltes et sa relation avec la morbidité et la croissance des nourrissons ont été évalués (n=333). Les résultats indiquent que dans ce milieu rural, 21,6% des ménages étaient en' insécurité alimentaire. L'insécurité alimentaire des ménages été associée à des infections respiratoires dans la deuxième moitié de la petite enfance, mais pas à la diarrhée ni au retard de croissance. L'utilisation des aliments de source animale, des fruits et légumes dans l'alimentation des jeunes enfants n'était pas une habitude dans cette région. La pauvreté et les contraintes de temps des mères, ainsi le manque de matériel éducatif et les barrières linguistiques ont été identifiés comme des défis à des pratiques d'alimentation complémentaire optimales et à l'éducation nutritionnelle, respectivement. Il était deux fois plus probable que les enfants dans le groupe IE satisfassent les recommandations minimales de fréquence alimentaire que les enfants du groupe CT (aOR = 2.62; 95% CI; 1.11, 6.16). Par contre, aucune différence n'a été trouvée dans les apports en énergie, en vitamine A, en calcium et en fer ni dans les indicateurs de croissance entre les trois groupes. Par ailleurs, les enfants des mères qui ont assisté à au moins une session d'éducation nutritionnelle dans le groupe IE avaient tendance à recevoir une alimentation minimalement acceptable (aOR = 2.30, 95% CI; 0.98, 5.39, p = 0.055) comparativement aux enfants du groupe CT à la fin de l'étude. La participation à l'intervention été faible parmi les mères. Les futures interventions en éducation devront accroître l'implication des participants dès la phase de conception de celles-ci afin d'améliorer la participation des PPE des nourrissons et des jeunes enfants.
30
Niño, Machado Natalia. "Growing right : unpacking the WHO Child Growth Standards Development and their implementation in Colombia." Thesis, University of Edinburgh, 2018. http://hdl.handle.net/1842/33267.
Full textAbstract:
Child growth reference charts have been used since the 1960s to assess children´s growth - enabling comparison of different population groups and the implementation of nutritional surveillance. In 2006, an important critical juncture occurred in the history of anthropometry and nutritional assessment, when the WHO released new growth charts for international comparison after promoting, since 1975, the use of the charts developed by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and US National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS). According to the WHO, these charts indicate how children should grow for the best health outcome in contrast to the NCHS/CDC charts that indicated how the average child grows. This shift from a descriptive to a prescriptive -and rather normative - approach allowed the WHO to state that all children in the world have the potential to grow and develop to within the same range of height and weight, thus implying that all children should develop in specific standardised ways, regardless of ethnicity, socioeconomic status and type of feeding. By 2011, approximately 125 countries had adopted the WHO charts for individual growth monitoring as well as the means of producing statistics for under- and over-nutrition, which would be used to assess and monitor a population's health status. This shift between charts has direct implications for how children's growth is measured and how malnutrition is assessed. The adoption of the WHO charts has immediate consequences for the calculation of underweight, overweight, stunting, and wasting prevalence. In this sense, the adoption of the new charts considerably changes the estimates to predict nutrition-related emergencies, the assessment of appropriate weaning practices, and the screening and monitoring of populations at risk or with growth deficiencies or excesses. In my doctoral research, I use Colombia as a case study to unpack how a standard developed by an international organisation is negotiated, adopted and constantly transformed once it is scaled down to a specific country. Using the theoretical approach to standards by authors such as Star, Bowker, Timmermans, Berg, and Epstein, in this dissertation I show how, far from being 'stable' and 'value-free' (as the World Bank would describe them), growth charts are political tools of measurement, charged with specific values regarding children's bodies. Given that Colombia had previously used the NCHS charts, this research explores how the WHO charts have been adopted within individual growth monitoring programmes in Colombia. I also describe how the change in charts has destabilised the production of under and over-nutrition indicators by national bodies, such as the Ministry of Health and the Instituto Nacional de Salud. My data includes twenty-eight interviews with policy makers, experts and civil servants who actively participated in the process of adopting and adapting the standards in Colombia at the national level; seventeen interviews with nurses and doctors; observation of 158 anthropometric assessments of children under five years old within six health facilities in the Caribbean region that were implementing a growth monitoring programme. By exploring how the WHO charts are interpreted and used in practice, this research contributes to the study of standards and standardisation as a field of study in its own right.
31
LaRosa, Kayla. "Behavior Change for Children Participating in Parent-Child Interaction Therapy: A Growth Curve Analysis." Scholar Commons, 2018. https://scholarcommons.usf.edu/etd/7320.
Full textAbstract:
Disruptive behavior disorders including Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Conduct Disorder (CD), and Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD), are listed among the most common reasons youth are referred for mental health services (Centers for Disease Control & Prevention [CDC], 2016b; Kazdin, Mazurick, Siegel, & 1994). Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) is one intervention that has been found to reduce clinically significant levels of disruptive behavior. The purpose of the current study was to determine the form of change, typical change trajectory, and individual variation in change for disruptive behavior across the two phases of PCIT; the Child-Directed Interaction (CDI) and Parent-Directed Interaction (PDI) phases. In addition, the current study determined which child and caregiver characteristics were associated with variation in change across CDI and PDI.
Participants included a total of 75 children in PCIT between the ages of 2 to 8 years. Children and their caregiver(s) attended PCIT weekly at a university-based, outpatient clinic. The Eyberg Child Behavior Inventory (ECBI) was completed at every treatment session to indicate the intensity of disruptive behavior. Child and caregiver characteristics including the caregiver and the child’s gender, the caregiver’s income and marital status, the caregiver’s relationship with the child, the number of caregivers in PCIT, the child’s primary diagnosis, and the child’s medication status, were obtained through medical record abstraction.
Results indicated the form of change in disruptive behavior, as measured on the ECBI Intensity scale, was linear in CDI and curvilinear in PDI. The average trajectory indicated disruptive behavior decreased throughout PCIT treatment. The decrease in ECBI Intensity scores during CDI was statistically significant, as well as the variance in children’s ECBI Intensity scores at the beginning of PDI.
Caregiver marital status significantly predicted the ECBI Intensity score, which was higher for the divorced or separated group at the first session of PDI than other groups. Caregiver type also significantly predicted the ECBI Intensity score. When the caregiver was a grandparent, the ECBI Intensity score was lowest at the first session of PDI. However, the change in the ECBI Intensity slope for the biological parent group was steeper in comparison when transitioning from CDI to PDI, and less steep throughout PDI, than the grandparent group. Number of caregivers also was a significant predictor, with more caregivers present in PCIT indicating a greater decrease in the ECBI Intensity score.
Significant child characteristic predictors were diagnosis code and medication status. For a diagnosis of Other (e.g., Adjustment Disorder, Selective Mutism), the ECBI Intensity score at the intercept was less than the ODD; ADHD; and Other Specified/Unspecified Disruptive, Impulse-Control, and CD groups; and higher than the Autism Spectrum Disorder/Social Pragmatic Communication Disorder group. A medication status of combined (greater than one psychopharmacological medication prescribed) indicated a higher ECBI Intensity score at the intercept, in comparison to the other groups. There was also a steeper change in slope throughout PDI when the diagnosis was ADHD in comparison to the ASD/SCD group. Last, when the medication status was single (one psychopharmacological medication prescribed), the change in slope during CDI for the ECBI Intensity score was steeper than the combined medication group.
In summary, findings indicated disruptive behavior decreased during PCIT. However, clinicians and families may expect a slight increase in disruptive behavior at the beginning of PDI, or to see a slower rate of change in behavior, before the rate of change eventually speeds up and disruptive behavior decreases. Clinicians may see differences in the rate of change during PCIT based on caregiver and child characteristics and should use this information to guide discussions with families in the future. Future research should be conducted to determine if results may be replicated across different participant groups. Future studies may also follow-up on the maintenance of treatment gains after completing PCIT based on differences in rate of change for various caregiver and child characteristics examined in the current study.
32
Human, Karen Hannah. "The development of children's social growth through a subjective approach." Thesis, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2010. http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11838/1441.
Full textAbstract:
Thesis (BTech (Surface Design))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2010This research is inspired by my own personal experience and views on Post Modem family life and the negative effects it can have on a growing individual. I have found Post Modem family life fractured and non-communicative. I then look at my own tactics of how I have personally dealt with the fractured state and how this can benefit children that are at the beginning fazes of their emotional, physical and mental development. Growing up communication and consistency in my family has always been lacking, due to my parents business trips and strange working hours. This made me detached socially as a child and left me to my own devices. My coping mechanism was to illustrate. Whenever I felt disconnected or alone from my family members I illustrated. While illustrating I formed a dialogue between me and the paper and suddenly I did not feel so alone. When reflecting on my life I realized that I do not want other children to resort to these lonely pastimes of placing their imagination on paper. I want to create a range of products where the emphasis is on how family should stick together and the products must form a natural platform for communication between child and parent. I also feel my products must stimulate the imagination which is linked to the right side of the brain that steers social and emotional development. Theorists that I will for my research is Maria Montessori, she was the creator and founder of Montessori Schools and teachings. She focussed on the holistic development of the child. Rudolf Steiner is the creator and founder of the Wahldorf Schule and teachings. He believed in developing children imagination. We live in the Post-Modem era and to solidify that I will look at Jean-Francois Lyotard's theories on Post Modem sociology. Vygotsky is a Child development psychologist who believed that children's social development happens by interacting with their parents. Roger Sperry is a Brain Dominance Theorist that believed that the right side of the brain is connected to social development and to stimulate the right side is by using your imagination.
33
Freeman, Jenny V. "The production of growth reference data for stature and weight for British children, 1990." Thesis, University College London (University of London), 1995. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.307564.
Full text
34
Brooker, Molly J. "The effect of acute exercise on bone metabolism in the pre-pubertal child." Virtual Press, 2000. http://liblink.bsu.edu/uhtbin/catkey/1164852.
Full textAbstract:
Exercise is known to have a long-term benefit on bone mass in children, but little is known about the underlying mechanisms. The purpose of this investigation was to determine the acute effect of exercise on bone metabolism in pre-pubertal children. Biochemical markers of bone formation were measured in 4 male and 4 female children, 8 to 11 years of age. Each subject performed 50 vertical jumps. Serum osteocalcin and C-telopeptide of type I collagen (CTx), were determined prior to exercise and at 24 and 72 hours post exercise as indicators of bone formation and bone resorption. Osteocalcin concentration was 8.20 ± 3.65 ng•mL"' before exercise, and was 7.1 ± 3.7 ng•mL-' and7.4 ± 3.7 ng•mL-' at 24 hours and 72 hours post exercise, respectively (P > 0.05). CTx concentrations were 11632 ± 4093 pmol•L-' before exercise, and was 9831 ± 3159 pmol•L-' at 24 hours and 9722 ± 2426 pmol•L7' at 72 hours post exercise (P > 0.05). In conclusion an acute bout of ballistic exercise appears to have no effect on bone metabolism in pre-pubertal children.School of Physical Education
35
Bhulpat, Cheerapan. "Brain Growth Spurts and Plateau Periods in Normal Elementary School Pupils." Thesis, North Texas State University, 1986. https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc330926/.
Full textAbstract:
The purposes of this study were to determine whether brain growth spurts occur in normal pupils and to determine whether there was a uniform difference in head circumference between boys and girls. Subjects were 3,062 normal elementary pupils, grades one through six, from one suburban school district. Fiberglass measuring tapes were used to measure pupils' head circumference. The hypotheses of the study predicted that the relationship between head circumference and age would be linear. Further, it was predicted that the differences in head circumference between boys and girls would be uniform over seven specified ages. The first hypothesis was tested using a test for linear trend and deviation from linear trend using the General Linear Models procedure. The results indicated that there was a significant linear trend between head circumference and age. The test for deviation from the linear trend was not significant. This would suggest that any deviation from a straight line observed in the data can be attributed to chance. It was concluded that since there was no significant deviation from linear trend, it would suggest a continuous growth of the brain for the ages included in this study. A two-way analysis of variance was used to test the second hypothesis. The results indicated that the male mean head circumference was significantly larger than that of the female in all age groups. As the interaction of sex and age groups was tested, there was no interaction between sex and age groups. It was concluded that since the interaction between sex and age groups was not significant, there is no indication of differences in the rates of brain growth between boys and girls.
36
Boone, Ryan F. "Conditional Cash Transfers and Child Health: The Case of Malawi." Scholarship @ Claremont, 2013. http://scholarship.claremont.edu/cmc_theses/579.
Full textAbstract:
This paper analyzes the impacts of the Malawi Social Cash Transfer Scheme. The goal of this paper is to help improve the design of cash transfers. First of all, I analyze whether the cash transfer positively affects child health variables despite occurring in a region with poor supply side health institutions. I find significant results for many child level variables, such as frequency of illnesses, but insignificant improvements in anthropometric measurements. Secondly, I examine whether female-headed households invest more in child health than male-headed households. The results show that the impacts of the cash transfer did not depend on the sex of the household head. This result provides some evidence that females do not always have systematically different preferences for expenditure on children than males. The paper uses the imperfect randomization of the cash transfer in combination with difference-in-differences regressions, propensity score matching, and Lee Bounds tests in order to ensure the robustness of the results.
37
Turnbull, Fiona Claire. "Well-being, coping and growth following trauma : a thesis research portfolio." Thesis, University of Edinburgh, 2015. http://hdl.handle.net/1842/16166.
Full textAbstract:
This thesis portfolio consists of two key pieces of work, a systematic review and an empirical research project, both of which explore outcomes associated with traumatic experiences. Systematic Review – There is a growing body of literature which demonstrates that, alongside the difficulties people may experience following trauma, many individuals are also likely to report growth following the struggle to come to terms with the event. This review explores the evidence for a relationship between reported growth and distress following civilian, interpersonal trauma. The review includes 13 studies which met the inclusion criteria (9 cross-sectional and 4 prospective). Findings are inconsistent and suggest that prospective study designs are more likely than cross-sectional designs to report significant relationships. A number of methodological issues and the implications for future research are discussed. Empirical Research Project – Survivors of childhood sexual abuse (CSA) present with a wide range of difficulties and the current evidence base for the treatment of complex trauma is limited. It is proposed that self-compassion and forgiveness based approaches may have the potential to be of benefit to this population. This cross-sectional study explored the relationships between posttraumatic stress symptoms, dissociation, self-blame, self-compassion and forgiveness. A clinical sample of adult survivors of CSA (N = 19) completed all measures. In keeping with previous literature, significant relationships were found between posttraumatic stress and both dissociation and self-blame. Forgiveness was positively correlated with dissociation, but not the other variables and no significant relationships were found between self-compassion and the variables of interest. Findings, implications and study limitations are discussed.
38
Young, Alyson G. "Young Child Health Among Eyasi Datoga: Socioeconomic Marginalization, Local Biology, and Infant Resilience within the Mother-Infant Dyad." Diss., The University of Arizona, 2008. http://hdl.handle.net/10150/195259.
Full textAbstract:
This biocultural study of infant health and the sensitivity of maternal caretaking strategies was conducted between November 2004 and February 2006 among Datoga, a semi-nomadic pastoral group living in north central Tanzania. A sample of 40 mother-infant dyads were selected to examine the political economy of household constraints and how maternal decisions interact with infant biology to 'embody' social inequality and create patterns of health and illness among young Datoga children. The primary objectives of the research were: 1) Identify the critical periods within early childhood where interactions between household production, nutrition, and health status increase the vulnerability of Datoga infants; 2) Identify how caregivers perceive of changes in infant health and how they use this information to balance allocation of resources between caregiving and household production; 3) Examine how sociopolitical marginalization is impacting Datoga households by determining the intrahousehold variables that act most strongly to constrain women's ability to care for children; 4) Identify how household ecology and caretaking interact with infant development to create patterns of resilience within the mother-infant dyad. The findings from the study indicate that the socioeconomic marginalization of Datoga has severe consequences for child health and well-being. These consequences are evident in the relationship between 'idioms of distress' used to express feelings of vulnerability and disparities in health among both Datoga children and adults. Thus, more attention needs to be paid to the 'socialization' of disease in local contexts and the ways in which the marginalization of Datoga is influencing their exposure to risks for poor health outcomes. Nonetheless, the sensitivity of maternal response has a positive influence on patterns of child health among Datoga, even in the most marginal conditions. Although the cumulative effects of maternal condition during pregnancy and post-natal feeding practices are acting to create patterns of poor nutrition and high illness rates among Datoga children, other variables (such as the amount of time spent in close proximity with the infant) can shift the negative cascade of events and mediate the long-term consequences of even severe adversity.
39
Patel, Priyadarshni. "Differences between Nutrition Knowledge of Mothers of Preschoolers and the Growth Status and Dietary Intake of the Preschoolers." Kent State University / OhioLINK, 2020. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1586192970437348.
Full text
40
Kuhn, Louise. "Why growth monitoring fails : an exploratory study of child malnutrition intervention in a rural African area." Master's thesis, University of Cape Town, 1991. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/13538.
Full textAbstract:
Bibliography: leaves 199-209.This study is an exploratory one of growth monitoring in a rural African village, Thornhill. Growth monitoring is a primary health care approach to prevent child malnutrition in under-developed areas promoted by a variety of development agencies, particularly UNICEF, as a part of the "child survival revolution." It involves weighing children regularly and plotting their weights on a growth chart retained by the child's mother. Growth charts provide a visual display of a child's growth to allow health workers and mothers to identify early signs of growth faltering in order to facilitate ameliorative action (usually food supplementation or nutrition education) to prevent malnutrition. It also aims to facilitate the active participation of mothers in ensuring their child's continual good growth. The history of growth monitoring and its use in the South African context is discussed. The underlying rationale and component processes needed to implement it effectively are identified in a review of process evaluation studies of growth monitoring. Thornhill is an impoverished African rural area in the Ciskei in which malnutrition is a serious health problem and growth monitoring has been systematically implemented. However, although the health service had a demonstrated capacity for successful health interventions it had been unable to improve nutritional status. Background information and previous research in the area is presented. The study aimed to explore why growth monitoring had failed to improve nutritional status in Thornhill by investigating the way in which the component objectives of growth monitoring in terms of making growth visible, facilitating nutrition intervention and facilitating mothers' participation in their children's care were perceived by mothers and health workers.
41
Wolfe, Amy D. "West Virginia's Universal Preschool Program: The Relationship between Child Characteristics and Early Learning Scale (ELS) Growth." Ohio University / OhioLINK, 2014. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1399626124.
Full text
42
Loots, Reginald. "Factors associated with malnutrition amongst children six months to five years of age in a semi-rural area of the Western Cape." Thesis, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2019. http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11838/3079.
Full textAbstract:
Thesis (MTech (Health and Science))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2019Malnutrition is a global concern and particularly in children. It impacts negatively on mortality, morbidity, educability and productivity, and it affects millions of children in South Africa. As part of our Millennium Development Goals set by the Department of Health and WHO, it is vital to combat malnutrition by eradicating extreme poverty and hunger. Malnutrition is regarded as a change in nutritional status that carries the penalty of illness, dysfunction or death. Child malnutrition poses one of the biggest challenges in South Africa according to the WHO and has been well documented over the past 20 years. A lack of knowledge from parents or caregivers on the nutritional needs of children and the levels of poverty contribute to childhood malnutrition; the extent of hunger has also been associated with low energy intake, low micronutrient intake and poor income levels. This affects growth patterns negatively. Thus, this study aims to examine the key factors that are causing malnutrition in children in a semi-rural community in the Western Cape. A combination of both qualitative and quantitative research approaches were used. Qualitative data were collected through group interviews and quantitative data were collected through a self-administered questionnaire from 105 parents and caregivers. Thematic content analysis was used for qualitative data analysis and SPSS was used to analyse the quantitative data. The results revealed that the associated factors to malnutrition amongst children six months to five years of age included obesity, underweight, stunting, severe acute malnutrition and moderate acute malnutrition. The results further indicated that the majority of households were single mothers with low income and a poor educational background. This study recommended that health education and health promotion should be done at all heath facilities with regular intervals as well as within the community. Authorities should provide a platform for all clinicians to go for regular updates and to participate in continuous development programmes to combat malnutrition. The findings of this study could contribute to the existing body of knowledge with regard to the factors that contribute to malnutrition. The results could improve health care practices in the communities of the Western Cape and the South African context at large.
43
Cole, Shana. "Caregiving for a Child with Multiple Disabilities: A Mother's Story." Scholarly Commons, 2020. https://scholarlycommons.pacific.edu/uop_etds/3696.
Full textAbstract:
Multiple disabilities does not just affect the individual, it affects caregivers as well. Once a child and parent receives the diagnosis of multiple disabilities they find themselves in a new territory, a new mindset. This study is a longitudinal autoethnographic personal narrative of a mother of a child with multiple disabilities using an intimate inquiry framework. Intimate inquiry allowed me as the researcher to explore my experiences as a reflection of the culture of caregivers of children with multiple disabilities. The purpose of this research was to attempt to understand what it means to raise a child with multiple disabilities from the inside with regards to the positive and negative transformations associated with raising and educating a child with multiple disabilities while achieving personal growth. Findings from my autoethnography suggest that caregivers from all aspects of the child’s life (family, home, school, child care, medical professionals) may share similar experiences and reactions addressed in the themes I identified. While this study specifically relates to caregiving for a child with multiple disabilities, it has the potential to relate to caregivers of any nature; those caring for their children, a spouse, or a parent or other family member.
44
Garcia, Arlen J. "Promoting positive youth development : using within-regression analysis to estimate group process growth curves as mediators of intervention change in multi-problem youth." FIU Digital Commons, 2005. https://digitalcommons.fiu.edu/etd/3868.
Full textAbstract:
This study extended the knowledge of and examined the moderation and mediation effects of contextual interpersonal exogenous and endogenous variables on intervention response.
The first analyses consisted of Repeated Measures Multivariate Analysis of Variance (RMANOVAs) and the second analyses consisted of estimating linear growth curves using within-subject regression analysis.
The results of the outcome and moderation analyses identified ethnicity as a plausible moderator of intervention response. Specifically, African Americans demonstrated significant higher psychosocial development in intimacy compared to Hispanics. The mediation analyses, which estimated linear growth curves using within- subject regression analysis, identified a potentially influential mediator, that is, group impact, as a causal factor contributing to the positive psychosocial development of identity.
In summary, the current study furthered examined the psychosocial development of identity and intimacy. Secondly, it demonstrated the influential moderation and mediation effects on intervention response. And thirdly, it expanded the methodological procedures in a university-community based intervention.
45
Karlberg, Hauge Vincent, and Leimdörfer August Wadell. "Can death predict life? : A study on the direct child replacement effect in Niger - an instrumental variable approach." Thesis, Uppsala universitet, Nationalekonomiska institutionen, 2020. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:uu:diva-416199.
Full textAbstract:
Sub-Saharan Africa is the region in the world with the highest population growth and child mortality. By measuring to what extent the parents "replace" a child in the case of death, we estimate the direct child replacement effect in Niger between 1976 and 2011. Our novel empirical strategy is a modified 2SPS instrumental variable approach, which exploits the exogeneity of precipitation and outdoor temperature in connection with the mother's pregnancy and the child's first five years. We find an estimate of 0.9. The estimate found close to unity implicates a relatively small trade-off between reducing child mortality and population growth, both being large problems in Niger. Our approach is a contribution to the literature on quasi-experimental methods in that we consider properties of respondents on an individual level in the first stage model, and redefine the outcome to a household level in the second stage. The redefinition is thereby a way of drawing conclusions on a group level.
46
Sawyer, Alexandra Elizabeth. "Cross-cultural study of posttraumatic growth following childbirth." Thesis, University of Sussex, 2011. http://sro.sussex.ac.uk/id/eprint/6978/.
Full textAbstract:
Posttraumatic growth describes positive changes following challenging events. Although such changes are well documented there remain a number of important areas for further research, some of which are addressed in this thesis. In particular, this thesis aimed to clarify the relationship between growth and adjustment following health events, explore growth in different cultures (UK and Africa), and examine growth following childbirth using a prospective design. First, two systematic reviews were carried out to examine (i) growth following health events and (ii) maternal wellbeing in African women. The first meta-analytic review found that growth following cancer and HIV/AIDS was associated with higher levels of positive mental health, higher subjective physical health, and lower levels of negative mental health. Moderating variables were time since the event, age, ethnicity, and type of negative mental health outcome. The second review found that maternal psychological problems in African women have a similar or slightly higher prevalence than reported in developed countries. Risk factors were broadly comparable although some culture-specific factors were also found. Three research studies were conducted. The first study qualitatively explored 55 Gambian women's experiences of pregnancy, childbirth, and the postnatal period. Thematic analysis identified five themes: (1) transition to adulthood, (2) physical difficulties, (3) value of children in relation to others, (4) children as a strain, and (5) going through it alone. Prospective studies of growth following childbirth were then carried out in the UK (N=125) and The Gambia (N=101). Women completed questionnaires during their third trimester of pregnancy and up to 12 weeks after birth. A proportion of women in both countries reported growth following childbirth. In the UK, higher levels of growth were associated with caesarean sections and prenatal posttraumatic stress symptoms. In The Gambia, higher growth was associated with lower income, lower education, and higher postnatal social support.
47
Åsling, Monemi Kajsa. "The Impact of Violence Against Women on Child Growth, Morbidity and Survival : Studies in Bangladesh and Nicaragua." Doctoral thesis, Uppsala University, Department of Women's and Children's Health, 2008. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:uu:diva-9197.
Full textAbstract:
The aim of this thesis was to explore the impact of physical, sexual and emotional violence against women of reproductive age and the level of controlling behaviour in marriage on child health and survival in two different cultural settings: Bangladesh and Nicaragua.
Data were acquired from four quantitative community-based studies. In two studies, a cohort including a prospective two year follow-up of 3164 mother-infant pairs in rural Bangladesh was investigated. A third study was a case-referent study in Nicaragua including mothers of 110 cases of under-five deaths and 203 referents, and in a forth study an other cohort of 1048 rural Bangladeshi women and their 2691 children was followed until 5 years of age.
Maternal exposure to any form of violence, including physical, sexual, emotional, and controlling behaviour was independently associated with lower body size at birth, increased risk of stunting and under-weight at 24 months of age, slower growth velocity during the first two years of life and a higher incidence of diarrhoeal episodes and respiratory tract infections. In the Nicaraguan setting, the children of women who experienced any history of physical violence had a two-fold increase in risk of death before the age of 5 years, and those whose mothers experienced both physical and sexual violence had a six-fold increase in risk of death. In Bangladesh, an association between violence against women and under-five mortality was found among daughters of educated mothers who were exposed to severe physical violence or a high level of controlling behaviour in marriage. In all four studies, lifetime violence experience among participating mothers was high (37-69%), and the timing was less relevant than the exposure to violence per se.
In conclusion, this investigation revealed that violence against women severely affects child health and survival. The findings are especially relevant in a context of high level of child under-nutrition, morbidity and under-five mortality. Efforts for protecting women from all forms of violence are needed as part of the interventions for improved child health.
48
Monemi, Kajsa Åsling. "The impact of violence against women on child growth, morbidity and survival : studies in Bangladesh and Nicaragua /." Uppsala : Uppsala University. Department of Women's and Children's Health, 2008. http://www.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:172360/FULLTEXT01.
Full text
49
Meehan, Deirdre. "'Coming into being' : the process of developmental growth in a severely deprived child in intensive psychoanalytic psychotherapy." Thesis, University of East London, 2016. http://roar.uel.ac.uk/5371/.
Full textAbstract:
This thesis is a study of recovery, reparation and developmental progress in a severely deprived child in intensive psychoanalytic treatment. The methodology involved the detailed analysis of a single case study, using grounded theory. The study was designed to analyse the process of treatment and discover how the child made developmental progress. Implications for psychoanalytic technique in working with children who have endured severe deprivation is examined. Some of the key findings add to existing knowledge about psychotherapeutic theory and practice, particularly in relation to reverie, attunement and containment in the context of the child's experience of gaps and breaks in treatment.
50
Mathema, Hlengani T. "Effects of HIV exposure on child growth in the Free State & Western Cape Provinces, South Africa." Master's thesis, University of Cape Town, 2013. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/11367.
Full textAbstract:
Includes abstract.Includes bibliographical references.
The aim of this analysis was to determine the effects of HIV exposure on child growth and nutritional status in children less than two years of age in the Free State (FS) and Western Cape (WC) Provinces, South Africa.