Parent Engagement and Infant-Toddler Development: Interim Effects of a Parent Engagement Intervention

Abstract Background Photovoice is a method used to help engage community members to understand local realities and promote social change. Photovoice uses cameras in the hands of participants as a tool to visually document a specified topic. Photos taken by participants allow for reflection and stimulate dialog on an issue to ideally lead to social change. Trachoma, hyperendemic in Maasai communities in Northern Tanzania, is the commonest infectious cause of blindness worldwide, caused by chlamydia trachomatis. The bacterial infection commonly occurs in childhood and over many years repeated infections leads to inflammation and scarring of the eyelid. Often as adults this leads to the upper eyelid turning inward and eyelashes scratching the eye, resulting in pain and eventually blindness. We used photovoice as a tool for Maasai women to share their lived experiences of educating peers on trachoma and ultimately empowering women in this society. Methods This public engagement intervention was conducted September thru October 2017. We held a workshop on trachoma control for 20 Maasai women including use of photovoice method. Women were asked to disseminate information from the trachoma control workshop to their community and to capture their experiences using disposable cameras. Five weeks post-workshop we facilitated a discussion and women displayed photos of the successes and challenges they encountered as advocates for trachoma control in their community. Intervention Outcomes It was observed throughout the process and at the photo discussion meeting, that women articulated empowerment by this experience; as educators, agents of change and a source of valued information. Conclusion Photovoice should be considered for future interventions as a communication tool on health issues and to empower women to be ambassadors for health promotion.

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Identifying Meaningful Indicators of Parent Engagement in Early Learning for Low-Income, Urban Families

Urban Education ◽

10.1177/0042085920968619 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 004208592096861

Author(s):

Amie F. Bettencourt ◽

Deborah Gross ◽

Kelly Bower ◽

Lucine Francis ◽

Kathryn Taylor ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Academic Success ◽

School Districts ◽

Low Income ◽

Parent Engagement ◽

Panel Discussion ◽

Urban Families ◽

Early Learning ◽

Urban School Districts ◽

School Based ◽

Home Based

The purpose of this study was to identify indicators of parent engagement in early learning that would be relevant for children’s academic success; equitable for all families regardless of social, educational, or economic backgrounds; and actionable for urban school districts seeking to promote parent engagement with limited resources. Using a Delphi technique, a panel of parents, school staff, and researchers rated 106 parent engagement indicators extracted from stakeholder interviews. After multiple Delphi rounds and panel discussion, 30 indicators were retained. Retained indicators focused on home-based activities and home-school relationships/communication; no school-based activities met criteria for relevance, feasibility, and actionability.

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Parent engagement in co-design of clinical trials: the PARENT trial

Trials ◽

10.1186/s13063-021-05305-6 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 22 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Leigh M. Vanderloo ◽

Shelley M. Vanderhout ◽

Erika Tavares ◽

Jonathon Maguire ◽

Sharon Straus ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Focus Group ◽

Patient Engagement ◽

Parent Engagement ◽

Nominal Group Technique ◽

Nominal Group ◽

Future Research ◽

Potential Barriers ◽

Patient Engagement In Research ◽

Diverse Individual ◽

Parent Trial

AbstractEvidence generated from partnering with parents to design and conduct research together may be used to refine, adjust, and modify future research approaches. This study aimed to describe the initial approaches to parent engagement in the design of the PARENT trial as well as understand parent perspectives on the acceptability and relevance of the PARENT trial and potential barriers and facilitators to participation.Parents participating in the TARGet Kids! cohort were invited to participate in a focus group, called the PARENT panel, to co-design the PARENT trial. This focus group was conducted to capture diverse individual and collective parents’ experiences. Overall methodological approaches for the PARENT panel were informed by the CIHR Strategy for Patient Oriented Research (SPOR) guiding principles (mutual respect, co-building, inclusiveness, and support) for patient engagement in research, and facilitated through the Knowledge Translation Program in the Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute at Unity Health Toronto. Using a Nominal Group Technique, the PARENT panel provided feedback on the feasibility, relevance, and acceptability of the proposed intervention. Findings from this work will be used to further refine, adjust, and modify the next iteration of the PARENT trial, which will also serve as an opportunity to discuss the efforts made by researchers to incorporate parent suggestions and what additional steps are required for improved patient engagement.

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Diarrheal Pathogens Associated with Growth and Neurodevelopment

Clinical Infectious Diseases ◽

10.1093/cid/ciaa1938 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Jeffrey R Donowitz ◽

Jeannie Drew ◽

Mami Taniuchi ◽

James A Platts-Mills ◽

Masud Alam ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cohort Study ◽

Socioeconomic Factors ◽

Birth Cohort ◽

Linear Growth ◽

Attributable Fraction ◽

Birth Cohort Study ◽

Neurodevelopmental Outcomes ◽

Typical Epec ◽

Toddler Development ◽

Pathogen Burden

Abstract Background Diarrheal pathogens have been associated with linear growth deficits. The effect of diarrheal pathogens on growth is likely due to inflammation which also adversely affects neurodevelopment. We hypothesized that diarrheagenic pathogens would be negatively associated with both growth and neurodevelopment. Methods We conducted a longitudinal birth cohort study of 250 children with diarrheal surveillance and measured pathogen burden in diarrheal samples using quantitative PCR. Pathogen attributable fraction estimates (AFe) of diarrhea over the first two years of life, corrected for socioeconomic variables, were used to predict both growth and scores on the Bayley III Scales of Infant and Toddler Development. Results 180 children were analyzed for growth and 162 for neurodevelopmental outcomes. Rotavirus, Campylobacter, and Shigella were the leading causes of diarrhea in year 1 while Shigella, Campylobacter, and ST-ETEC were the leading causes in year 2. Norovirus was the only pathogen associated with LAZ at 24 months and was positively associated (RC 0.42, CI 0.04, 0.80). Norovirus (RC 2.46, CI 0.05 – 4.87) was also positively associated with cognitive scores while sapovirus (RC -2.64, CI -4.80 – -0.48) and Typical EPEC (RC -4.14, CI -8.02 – -0.27) were inversely associated. No pathogens were associated with language or motor scores. Significant maternal, socioeconomic, and perinatal predictors were identified for both growth and neurodevelopment. Conclusion Maternal, prenatal, and socioeconomic factors were common predictors of growth and neurodevelopment. Only a limited number of diarrheal pathogens were associated with these outcomes.

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