Free school meals and children's social and nutritional status in Trinidad and Tobago

AbstractObjective:To evaluate the provision of free school meals in Trinidad and Tobago in relation to children's social and nutritional status.Design and methods: Cross-sectional survey of a nationally representative sample of 66 government schools, including children in the admissions classes (aged 4 to 7 years) and classes for ‘rising nines’ (aged 7–10 years). Data included questionnaire details of free school meals and children's social background, and measurements of children's heights, weights and skinfold thicknesses.Results:Of 6731 eligible children, data were analysed for 5688 (85%). There were 2386 (42%) children receiving free meals provided at school. At different schools the proportion of all children receiving free meals ranged from 20% to 100%, P < 0.001. Receipt of free meals was associated with larger family size (one child, 32% received free meals; ≥6 children, 63%), lower paternal educational attainment (primary, 52% free; university, 30%), father's employment (employed, 39% free meals; unemployed <12 months, 59%) as well as maternal education and employment and household amenities. After adjusting for age, sex and ethnic group, children who received free meals were shorter (mean difference in height standard deviation score (SDS) –0.12, 95% confidence interval (CI) –0.17 to –0.06), lighter (body mass index SDS –0.21, –0.28 to –0.14) and thinner (subscapular skinfold SDS –0.13, –0.18 to –0.09).Conclusions:Free school meals were widely available, with some targeting of provision to children with less favourable social and nutritional status. Greater universality would reduce inequity, but more stringent targeting and reduction of school-level variation would increase efficiency.

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Implementation of Universal Infant Free School Meals: a pilot study in NE England exploring the impact on Key Stage 1 pupil’s dietary intake

Public Health Nutrition ◽

10.1017/s1368980020004875 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 1-9

Author(s):

Suzanne Spence ◽

John NS Matthews ◽

Lorraine McSweeney ◽

Maisie K Rowland ◽

Phoebe Orango ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Primary Schools ◽

School Level ◽

Dietary Intakes ◽

School Meals ◽

Positive Health ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Free School ◽

Total Diet ◽

The Impact ◽

Universal Infant

Abstract Objective: To consider the principal effect of an interaction between year (pre- and post-Universal Infant Free School Meals (UIFSM)) and school on pupil’s dietary intakes. Design: A repeated cross-sectional survey using dietary data from 2008 to 2009 (pre-) and 2017 to 2018 (post-UIFSM) Setting: Two primary schools, NE England. Participants: Pupils aged 4–7 years (2008–2009 n 121; 2017–2018 n 87). Results: At lunchtime, there was a statistically significant decrease in pupils non-milk extrinsic sugars intake (%E NMEs) pre- to post-UIFSM (mean change –4·6 %; 95 % CI –6·3, –2·9); this was reflected in total diet (–3·8 %; –5·2, –2·7 %). A year and school interaction was found for mean Ca intakes: post-UIFSM pupils in School 2 had a similar mean intake as pre; in School 1 intakes had increased (difference of difference: –120 mg; 95 % CI –179, –62); no reflection in total diet. Post-UIFSM mean portions of yogurt decreased in School 2 and remained similar in School 1 (–0·25; –0·46, –0·04); this was similar for ‘cake/pudding’ and fruit. Conclusions: Within the limitations, these findings highlight positives and limitations following UIFSM implementation and demonstrate the role of school-level food practices on pupil’s choices. To facilitate maximum potential of UIFSM, national levers, such as discussions on updating school food standards, including sugars, could consider removing the daily ‘pudding’ option and advocate ‘fruit only’ options 1 d/week, as some schools do currently. Small school-level changes could maximise positive health impacts by decreasing NMEs intake. A more robust evaluation is imperative to consider dietary impacts, equitability and wider effects on schools and families.

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Homework Emotion Management at the Secondary School Level: Antecedents and Homework Completion

Teachers College Record ◽

10.1177/016146811111300303 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 113 (3) ◽

pp. 529-560 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Jianzhong Xu

Keyword(s):

Emotion Regulation ◽

Secondary School ◽

Emotion Management ◽

School Level ◽

Individual Student ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Class Level ◽

Secondary School Level ◽

Homework Completion

Background/Context For many children, doing homework becomes an emotionally charged event and one of the most disappointing aspects of school life. It is surprising to note, however, that homework emotion management is noticeably absent from much contemporary homework literature. Purpose The primary propose of the present study was to propose and test empirical models of variables posited to predict homework emotion management at the secondary school level, with the models informed by (a) research and theory on emotion regulation and (b) findings from homework research that alluded to a number of factors that may influence homework emotion management. Another purpose of the present study was to examine whether homework emotion management is related to homework completion, one of the major outcome variables in the homework process. Research Design The study reported here used cross-sectional survey data. The participants were 1,895 students from 111 classes in the southeastern United States, including 1,046 eighth graders from 63 classes and 849 11th graders from 48 classes. Results Results from the multilevel analyses revealed that most of the variance in homework emotion management occurred at the student level, with grade level appearing as the only significant predictor at the class level. At the student level, the variation in homework emotion management was positively associated with teacher feedback, peer-oriented reasons for doing homework, arranging the environment, managing time, and monitoring motivation. Girls reported statistically significant higher scores in managing homework emotion than did boys. Follow-up analyses further revealed that homework emotion management was positively associated with homework completion. Conclusion As most of the variance in homework emotion management occurred at the student level rather than at the class level, homework emotion management was largely a function of individual student characteristics and experiences. The present study further suggests that monitoring motivation and managing time play a predominant role in homework emotion management (compared with other variables included in the present study). Consequently, there is a critical need to conceptualize these variables in the process of emotion regulation in general, and in homework emotion management in particular. In addition, there is a critical need for secondary schools to strategically engage students in the homework process to better manage their emotion while doing homework.

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Manuscript title: Prevalence and determinants of undernutrition among under-five children residing in urban slums and rural area, Maharashtra, India: a community-based cross-sectional study

10.21203/rs.3.rs-15651/v7 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Sujata Kapil Murarkar ◽

Jayashree Sachin Gothankar ◽

Prakash Doke ◽

Prasad Pore ◽

Sanjay Lalwani ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Nutritional Status ◽

Breast Feeding ◽

Rural Areas ◽

Maternal Education ◽

Economic Status ◽

Urban Slums ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Exclusive Breast Feeding ◽

Under Five ◽

Under Five Children

Abstract BackgroundUndernutrition among under five children in India is a major public health problem.Despite India’s growth in the economy, the child mortality rate due to undernutrition is still high in both urban and rural areas.Studies that focus on urban slums are scarce. Hence the present study was carried out to assess the prevalence and determinants of undernutrition in children under five in Maharashtra, India.Methods A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in 16 randomly selected clusters in two districts of Maharashtra state, India. Data were collected through house to house survey by interviewing mothers of under five children. Total 2929 mothers and their 3,671 under five children were covered. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was carried out to identify the determinants of child nutritional status seperately in urban and rural areas. ResultsThe mean age of the children was 2.38 years (±SD 1.36) and mean age of mothers was 24.25 years (± SD 6.37).Overall prevalence of stunting among children under five was 45.9 %, wasting was 17.1% and 35.4% children were underweight.Prevalence of wasting, stunting and underweight were more seen in an urban slum than a rural area.In the rural areas exclusive breast feeding(p<0.001) and acute diarrhea (p=0.001) were associated with wasting, children with birth order 2 or less than 2 were associated with stunting and exclusive breast feeding (p<0.05) and low maternal education were associated with underweight. Whereas in the urban slums exclusive breast feeding(p<0.05) was associated with wasting, sex of the child (p<0.05) and type of family(p<0.05)were associated with stunting,and low income of the family(p<0.05) was associated with underweight.ConclusionsFactors like sex of the child, birth order,exclusive breast feeding ,economic status of the family, type of family,acute diarrhea and maternal education have influence on nutritional status of the child. Improvement of maternal education will improve the nutritional status of the child. Strategies are needed to improve the economic status of the community.Trial registration-Trial registration number:CTRI/2017/12/010881;Registration date:14/12/2017. Retrospectively registered.

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Prevalence and determinants of undernutrition among under-five children residing in urban slums and rural area, Maharashtra, India: a community-based cross-sectional study

10.21203/rs.3.rs-15651/v3 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Sujata Kapil Murarkar ◽

Jayashree Sachin Gothankar ◽

Prakash Doke ◽

Prasad Pore ◽

Sanjay Lalwani ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Nutritional Status ◽

Breast Feeding ◽

Rural Areas ◽

Maternal Education ◽

Urban Slums ◽

Trial Registration ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Exclusive Breast Feeding ◽

Under Five ◽

Under Five Children

Abstract Background Undernutrition among under five children in India is a major public health problem.Despite India’s growth in the economy, the child mortality rate due to undernutrition is still high in both urban and rural areas.Studies that focus on urban slums are scarce. Hence the present study was carried out to assess the prevalence and determinants of undernutrition in children under five in Maharashtra, India.Methods A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in 16 randomly selected clusters in two districts of Maharashtra state, India. Data were collected through house to house survey by interviewing mothers of under five children. Total 2929 mothers and their 3,671 under five children were covered. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was carried out to identify the determinants of child nutritional status seperately in urban and rural areas. Results The mean age of the children was 2.38years (±SD 1.365) and mean age of mothers was 24.25(± SD6.37) years.Overall prevalence of stunting among children under five was 45.9 %, wasting was 17.1% and 35.4% children were underweight.Prevalence of wasting, stunting and underweight were more seen in an urban slum than a rural area.In the rural areas exclusive breast feeding(p<0.001) and acute diarrhea (p=0.001)in children underfive were associated with wasting, children with birth order 2 or less than 2 were more affected by stunting and exclusive breast feeding (p<0.05) and low maternal education were associated with underweight.Whereas in the urban slums exclusive breast feeding(p<0.05) was associated with wasting, sex of the child (p<0.05) and type of family(p<0.05)were associated with stunting,and low income of the family(p<0.05) was associated with underweight.Conclusion Factors like sex of the child, birth order,exclusive breast feeding ,economic status of the family, type of family,acute diarrhea and maternal education have influence on nutritional status of the child. Improvement of maternal education will improve the nutritional status of the child. Strategies are needed to improve the economic status of the community.The trial registration-This article is part of baseline data of the project, hence not related to trial registration. After baseline data principal investigator had done trial registration retrospectively.

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ASSESSMENT OF NUTRITIONAL STATUS AND ITS DETERMINANTS AMONG CHILDREN IN AGE GROUP OF 1-5 YEARS IN A TRIBAL POPULATION OF COIMBATORE DISTRICT-A CROSS SECTIONAL STUDY

10.36106/paripex/4501862 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 51-54

Author(s):

T. Pravin ◽

P.K. Govindarajan ◽

A. John William Felix

Keyword(s):

Nutritional Status ◽

Maternal Education ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Age Group ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Under Five ◽

Under Five Children ◽

Malnourished Children ◽

Coimbatore District

Background: Under-five children are more vulnerable to malnutrition especially in rural areas resulting in more morbidity and mortality among them. The present study is aimed to assess the prevalence of malnutrition among children of 1-5 years of age in tribal hamlets of Valparai block, Coimbatore district in Tamil Nadu. Methods: A community-based, cross-sectional study was conducted among 95 children in the age group of 1-5 years during December-January 2020. Anthropometric measurements were taken. The indicators of nutritional status of children like stunting, underweight, and wasting were expressed using WHO growth standards. Results: The overall prevalence of malnutrition in our study was 31.6%. Among the 30 (31.6%) malnourished children, 40% were underweight, and 6.67% were severely underweight. 40% were stunted, of which 13.3% were severely stunted. Wasting was present in 23.3% of malnourished children. Severe wasting was not seen. Socio-demographic factors including the type of house, maternal education, BMI of the mother, age of mother at childbirth and place of delivery had significant association with malnutrition among under-five tribal children. Conclusions: Malnutrition poses a serious threat to under-five children. Though many known risk factors of malnutrition have been studied, understanding the local factors linked with malnutrition is so crucial while planning information, education, and communication programs in this area.

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Associations between deprivation, attitudes towards eating breakfast and breakfast eating behaviours in 9–11-year-olds

Public Health Nutrition ◽

10.1017/s1368980007699558 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 10 (6) ◽

pp. 582-589 ◽

Cited By ~ 46

Author(s):

Graham F Moore ◽

Katy Tapper ◽

Simon Murphy ◽

Rebecca Lynch ◽

Larry Raisanen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Primary Schools ◽

School Level ◽

Eating Behaviours ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Breakfast Skipping ◽

Breakfast Eating ◽

Eating Breakfast ◽

Causal Nature

AbstractObjectivesTo examine school-level relationships between deprivation and breakfast eating behaviours (breakfast skipping and the healthfulness of foods consumed) in 9–11-year-old schoolchildren and to examine whether attitudes towards eating breakfast mediated these relationships.DesignCross-sectional survey.SettingOne hundred and eleven primary schools in Wales.SubjectsYear 5 and 6 pupils within the 111 primary schools. Measures were completed by 4314 children. Analysis was conducted at the group (school) level, with each school representing one group.ResultsDeprivation was positively associated with breakfast skipping and consumption of ‘unhealthy’ items (i.e. sweet snacks, crisps) for breakfast. A significant negative association was found between deprivation and consumption of ‘healthy’ items (i.e. fruit, bread, cereal, milk). Deprivation was significantly inversely associated with attitudes towards eating breakfast. The relationships between deprivation and (1) breakfast skipping and (2) consumption of ‘healthy’ items for breakfast were mediated by attitudes towards eating breakfast. The hypothesis that attitudes mediated the relationship between deprivation and consumption of ‘unhealthy’ breakfast items was unsupported.ConclusionsDeprivation is associated with adverse breakfast eating behaviours amongst children aged 9–11 years, in terms of breakfast skipping and the quality of breakfasts consumed. Socio-economic differences in attitudes towards eating breakfast are apparent amongst this age group, and appear to relate to social gradients in breakfast eating behaviours. Research is needed to examine the causal nature of these trends and to elucidate factors underlying the development of socio-economic differences in eating-related cognitions.

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Path Analysis on the Determinants of Complementary Feeding Practice

Childhood Stunting, Wasting, and Obesity, as the Critical Global Health Issues: Forging Cross-Sectoral Solutions ◽

10.26911/the7thicph.03.103 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Renidya Asyura Muttabi’ Deya Fa’ni ◽

◽

Yulia Lanti Retno Dewi ◽

Isna Qadrijati ◽

◽

...

Keyword(s):

Nutritional Status ◽

Path Analysis ◽

Maternal Education ◽

Family Income ◽

Complementary Feeding ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Feeding Practice ◽

Maternal Knowledge ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Child Nutritional Status

ABSTRACT Background: Complementary feeding practice is needed to be optimized to maximize children’s potential for growth and development. However, there are still many obstacles in provide complementary feeding practice. This study aimed to examine the determinants of complementary feeding practice. Subjects and Method: A cross sectional study was conducted in Gunungkidul, Yogyakarta, Indonesia, from October to November 2019. A sample of 200 mothers who had infants aged 6-24 months was selected by probability sampling. The dependent variable was complementary feeding practice. The independent variables were birthweight, child nutritional status, maternal knowledge toward complementary feeding, maternal education, and family income. The data were collected by infant weight scale, infantometer, and questionnaire. The data were analyzed by a multiple logistic regression run on Stata 13. Results: Complementary feeding practice increased with birthweight ≥2500 g (b= 2.67; 95% CI=0.59 to.89; p= 0.008), child nutritional status (WHZ) -2.0 to 2.0 SD (b= 2.72; 95% CI=o.75 to 4.61; p= 0.006), high maternal knowledge toward complementary feeding (b= 2.27; 95% CI= 0.27 to 3.79; p= 0.023), maternal education ≥Senior high school (b= 2.19; 95% CI= 0.23 to 4.25; p= 0.028), and family income ≥Rp 1,571,000 (b= 2.42; 95% CI= 0.39 to 3.77; p= 0.015). Conclusion: Complementary feeding practice increases with birthweight ≥2500 g, good child nutritional status, high maternal knowledge toward complementary feeding, high maternal education, and high family income. Keywords: complementary feeding, path analysis Correspondence: Renidya Asyura Muttabi’ Deya Fa’ni. Masters Program in Public Health, Universitas Sebelas Maret. Jl. Ir. Sutami 36A, Surakarta 57126, Central Java, Indonesia. Email: [email protected]. Mobile: +62 815 3934 0421. DOI: https://doi.org/10.26911/the7thicph.03.103

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Nutritional status of adolescent girls in Bangladesh: findings of a community based survey

South East Asia Journal of Public Health ◽

10.3329/seajph.v6i1.30337 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 6 (1) ◽

pp. 3-7 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Kabir Hossen ◽

Fazlur Rahman ◽

Saidur Rahman Mashreky

Keyword(s):

Nutritional Status ◽

Adolescent Girls ◽

Large Population ◽

Population Data ◽

Health Care Facilities ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Community Based ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Household Level ◽

Under Nutrition

Poverty, large population, socio- economic inequalities and inadequate access to proper health care facilities are the key causes of under nutrition in Bangladesh. Adolescents are the most vulnerable group for under nutrition and having great consequence as they will be parent in future. Studies on nutritional status of adolescent girls are fewer in number and have great effect for intervention. The objective of this study was to assess the nutritional status and predisposing factors of under nutrition among the adolescent girls in Bangladesh. A community-based cross-sectional survey was carried out from July to December 2013. Adolescent girls were the study population. Data was collected by face to face interview at household level. According to BMI category (kg/m2) the prevalence of under-weight (BMI<18.5) was found 65.9% and as per Gomez Classification (Weight for age), the prevalence of malnutrition was 48.2% (mild), 23.5% (moderate) and 2.8% (severe) categories and finally, as per Water Low Classification wasting found 16.6% (mild), 3.5%(moderate) and 0.2% severe categories. On the other hand, stunting found 39.6 % (mild), 9.2% (moderate) and 2.3% (severe) categories. Prevalence of under nutrition was found much higher (82.3%) among younger age group (?12 years). Higher prevalence of under-nutrition also found among the functionally illiterate adolescent girls, it was 75.8% and 51.3% among illiterate and literate group respectively. In both of the cases difference was statistically significant (p<0.001). The prevalence of illness found higher among under-weight adolescent girls in last two weeks compare to healthy adolescent girls both in rural and urban settings. This difference also found statistically significant (p<0.001). Under nourishment found higher among younger and low literate girls. Prevalence of other symptoms is also found higher among them.South East Asia Journal of Public Health Vol.6(1) 2016: 3-7

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Principals’ Instructional Leadership towards Teachers' Self-Efficacy

International Journal of Engineering & Technology ◽

10.14419/ijet.v7i3.30.18349 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 7 (3.30) ◽

pp. 449

Author(s):

Nitce Isa Medina Machmudi Isa ◽

Azlin Norhaini Mansor ◽

Jamalul Lail Abdul Wahab ◽

Bity Salwana Alias

Keyword(s):

Instructional Leadership ◽

Self Efficacy ◽

Leadership Practices ◽

Rating Scale ◽

Short Form ◽

School Level ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

The Right ◽

High Level

Principals’ instructional leadership practices have proved to be an imperative predictor to teachers’ self-efficacy. Yet, educators are concerned about the ability to adapt to new instructional leaderships due to unspoken principal-teacher expectations. This paper discusses the extent of instructional leadership practices by two newly transferred principals at two different schools. The purpose of this quantitative study was to examine how their instructional leadership practices affected the self-efficacy of the teachers. Through the use of a cross-sectional survey, responses made by 64 teachers employed in one public school and one privately-run school, were compared. The Principal Instructional Management Rating Scale (PIMRS) Teacher Short Form and the Teachers’ Sense of Efficacy Scale (TSES) were used for data collection. The findings showed a high level of instructional leadership practices and self-efficacy in both schools. The test results indicated a strong and positive relationship between the principals’ perceived instructional leadership practices and the teachers’ self-efficacy. Some of the details even suggested that newly transferred principals enforce specific school goals as their main agenda. Nevertheless, the areas of significance identified by this study may help district school superintendents develop the right knowledge to support newly transferred principals in their instructional leadership, thus enhancing teachers’ self-efficacy at the school level.

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Self-Medication Practices among Parents in Italy

BioMed Research International ◽

10.1155/2015/580650 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 2015 ◽

pp. 1-8 ◽

Cited By ~ 24

Author(s):

Luca Garofalo ◽

Gabriella Di Giuseppe ◽

Italo F. Angelillo

Keyword(s):

Public Schools ◽

Health Problem ◽

School Level ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Self Medication ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Level Of Education ◽

Secondary School Level ◽

Inflammatory Drugs ◽

Potential Impact

The aims of this cross-sectional survey were to document the prevalence, the determinants, and the reasons of oral medication use without the prescription of a physician among a random sample of 672 parents of students attending randomly selected public schools in Italy. A total of 69.2% practiced self-medication at least once. The odds of having performed a self-medication were higher in females, in younger population, and in those who have had a health problem in the preceding year and were lower in respondents with a middle or lower school level of education. Among those reporting experience of self-medication, 53.4% have practiced at least once in the last year and this was more likely for those who have had a health problem. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs were more frequently used without a prescription in the last year. Two-thirds inappropriately self-medicated in the last year at least once. Of those who did not report a self-medication, 13.1% were willing to practice it. Females were more willing and those with a secondary school level of education less willing to practice self-medication. The frequency of oral self-medication was quite high and in most cases inappropriate with a potential impact on the health status and educative programs are needed.

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