scholarly journals Does school reopening affect SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence among school-age children in Milan?

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (9) ◽  
pp. e0257046
Author(s):  
Lucia Barcellini ◽  
Federica Forlanini ◽  
Arianna Sangiorgio ◽  
Greta Gambacorta ◽  
Luisella Alberti ◽  
...  

The benefits of schools’ closure, used as a containment strategy by many European countries, must be carefully considered against the adverse effects of child wellbeing. In this study, we assessed SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence, which better estimates the real extent of the infection unraveling asymptomatic cases, among schoolchildren aged 3 to 18 in Milan, using dried blood spot, a safe and extremely viable methods for children, and then compared it between September 2020 and January 2021. Secondly, we evaluated the seroconversion rate and compared it between students attending schools in presence and those switched to distance-learning, using a logistic regression model, both as univariate and multivariate, adjusting for age and biological-sex. Among 1109 pupils, we found a seroprevalence of 2.8% in September before school reopening, while in January 2021, the seropositive rate was 12.5%, reflecting the general growth rate of infections during the second pandemic wave. The overall seroconversion rate was 10%, with no differences based on biological-sex and age groups; we observed no seroreversion. When considered age groups, the seroconversion rate was 10.5% (95%Confidence Interval, 2.9–24.8) among children attending preschools, 10.6% (95%Confidence Interval, 8.2–13.4) for primary schools, 9.9% (95%Confidence Interval, 6.8–13.8) for secondary schools, and 7.8% (95%Confidence Interval, 4–13.2) among high-school students. Interestingly, no differences in seroconversion rate were found between students who attended school compared to those who started remote learning in the first days of November. Furthermore, most patients (61%) reported that the contact occurred within the household. We reported a low seroconversion rate among school children in Milan, with no differences between those who attended from September 2020 to January 2021 compared to those who switched to remote learning in the first days of November. Our data suggest that schools do not amplify SARS-CoV-2 transmission, but rather reflect the level of the transmission in the community.

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhicong Ma ◽  
Jiangqi Wang ◽  
Jiang Li ◽  
Yingnan Jia

Abstract Background The study aimed to investigate the association between content-based problematic smartphone use and obesity in school-age children and adolescents, including variations in the association by educational stage and sex. Methods Two-stage non-probability sampling was used to recruit 8419 participants from nineteen primary schools, five middle schools, and thirteen high schools in Shanghai in December 2017. Obesity was identified by body mass index (BMI), which was obtained from the school physical examination record, while problematic smartphone use was measured by the Revised Problematic Smartphone Use Classification Scale as the independent variable. Results The rates of obesity varied with educational stages, while problematic smartphone use increased with educational stages. Male students reported higher obesity rates (37.1%vs19.4%, P < 0.001) and greater problematic smartphone use scores (25.65 ± 10.37 vs 22.88 ± 8.94, P < 0.001) than female students. Problematic smartphone use for entertainment (smartphone users addicted to entertainment games, music, videos, novels and other applications) was positively associated to obesity status for primary school [odds ratio (OR), 1.030; 95% confidence interval (95% CI), 1.005–1.057] and high school students (OR, 1.031; 95% CI, 1.004–1.059). For female students, problematic smartphone use for entertainment was positively associated with obesity status (OR, 1.046; 95% CI, 1.018–1.075). Conclusions Problematic smartphone use may be associated with obesity in children and adolescents. The association differed based on the educational stage and sex, and the difference possessed dimensional specificity.


2020 ◽  
Vol 79 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. 1942.2-1943
Author(s):  
G. Pimentel ◽  
A. Marques ◽  
R. Ferreira ◽  
E. Mateus ◽  
A. Pais

Background:International studies have shown that the awareness and knowledge of the general population about rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMDs) is poor. This is even lower in the young population, which are also affected by these disease but do not have as much awareness campaigns as adult community. Their professors and primary health care professionals may also play here also a key role, promoting early detection of signs and interpretations of symptoms, thus avoiding late health care referrals and diagnosis. (Vlieland, 2016).Objectives:To assess the knowledge of high school Portuguese students about the RMDs and raise awareness for RMDs in young people, their professors, vigilants, and primary care nurses, within the school environment.Methods:A 1-hour educational session about RMDs was planned (with the inputs from members of the Portuguese EULAR Associations) and performed during school activities. The educational session started with a knowledge questionnaire about RMDs in a paper sheet (9 questions; Graph 1), repeated in the end. An interactive session, using slides, interactive questions (Sli.do®), and practical demonstrations to simulate RMD symptoms (e.g. stiffness and functional limitations) was then lead by a rheumatology nurse, with the testimony from a young patient representative. A primary care nurse assisted in order to be engaged and promote future sessions (“autonomously”). Change in knowledge was assessed with Wilcoxon-test and awareness was documented with “word clouds” (using Sli.do®).Results:A total of 75 students participated in four sessions (mode=16 years). Half of students (52%) had never heard about RMDs. Knowledge increased significantly in all questions (p<0.001; Graph 1). Figures 1 and 2 document the most common words representing what defines a RMD and what are the main symptoms, respectively.Conclusion:Our results confirm that awareness and knowledge about RMDs are very low high school students. The single and educational session was very well received by all students, and the the knowledge increased. Post-educational feedback was that students especially liked the testimony of a peer. Other sessions are taking place in primary schools.References:[1]Vlieland, T. P., et al. RMD Open, 2016;2:e000337. doi:10.1136/rmdopen- 2016-000337Acknowledgments:To European League Against Rheumatism for the founding provided through the campaign “Don’t Delay, Connect Today”.Disclosure of Interests:None declared


2011 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 198 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sara Hashemi Shahraki ◽  
Abbass Eslami Rasekh

Slang usage in modern age Iran is a popular phenomenon among most male and female teenagers. How pervasive this variation of language use is among various age and sex groups in Iran has been a question of debate given the significance of religion in a theological system of social structure. The work presented in this study aims to investigate the effect of age and sex on variability of slang usage. Sixty Iranian participants were selected, and then were divided into three age groups (i.e. primary school, high school, and senior university students) each group consisting of ten males and ten females. A self-made questionnaire in the form of Discourse Completion Test (DCT) describing nine situations of friendly conversations was given to the participants. They were asked to make their choice on the responses, which ranged from formal to very informal style (common teenage slang expressions), or to write down what they wish to say under each circumstance. The results of the chi–square tests indicated that slang usage among high school students is more frequent as compared with other age groups. Unlike the popular belief suggesting that slang is used by boys rather than girls, the findings suggested that young Iranians both male and female use slang as a badge of identity showing their attachment to the social group they wish to be identified with.


2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edward Goldstein

AbstractBackgroundThere is limited information about the role of different age groups, particularly subgroups of school-age children and younger adults in propagating influenza epidemics.MethodsFor a communicable disease outbreak, some subpopulations may play a disproportionate role during the ascent of the outbreak due to increased susceptibility and/or contact rates. Such subpopulations can be identified by considering the proportion that cases in a subpopulation represent among all cases in the population occurring before the epidemic peak (Bp), the corresponding proportion after the epidemic peak (Ap), to calculate the relative risk for a subpopulation, RR=Bp/Ap. We estimated RR for several age groups using data on reported influenza A cases in Germany between 2002-2017.ResultsChildren aged 14-17y had the highest RR estimates for 7 out of 15 influenza A epidemics in the data, including the 2009 pandemic, and the large 2016/17, 2008/09, and 2006/07 seasons. Children aged 10-13y had the highest RR estimates during 3 epidemics, including the large 2014/15 and 2004/05 seasons. Children aged 6-9y had the highest RR estimates during two epidemics, including the large 2012/13 season. Children aged 2-5y had the highest RR estimate during the moderate 2015/16 season; adults aged 18-24y had the highest RR estimate during the small 2005/06 season; adults aged 25-34y had the highest RR estimate during the large, 2002/03 season.ConclusionsOur results support the prominent role of all school-age children, particularly the oldest ones, in propagating influenza epidemics in the community. We note that national vaccination coverage levels among older school-age children were lower than among younger school-age children during the recent influenza seasons in the US, and influenza vaccination program in England has not been phased in yet for secondary school students.


2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 952
Author(s):  
Lia Artika Sari ◽  
Nurmisih Nurmisih ◽  
Dewi Sartika

Iron deficiency nutritional anemia is the most common anemia in the world. Riskesdas results showed that the prevalence of anemia of women ≥15 years old amounted to 22.7% while the prevalence of anemia in pregnant women was 37.1%. The prevalence of anemia nationally for all age groups is 21.7%. Young women are prone to anemia due to a lot of blood loss during menstruation, in addition to being exacerbated by a lack of iron intake, the need for iron in young women is urgently needed for accelerated growth and development. Coverage of young women who received blood-added tablets was 76.2% and that was not 23.8%. This research is an experimental Quasy Design study using the design of one group pre test-post test with the aim of knowing the influence of SF Consumption and Red Seed Guava Juice on changes in hemoglobin levels in Young Women who received SF Tablet Supplementation at SMP Negeri 19 Jambi City in 2019. Sampling in the study was Simple Random sampling as many as 74 students. The data was obtained from the results of the examination of the level of Hb Young women. The analysis used is univariate and bivariate. The statistical test used is the t-paired test. The average value of hemoglobin levels in Young Women before consuming SF and red seed guava juice in SMP 19 Jambi City in 2019 is 11.94 g/dl and the average value of hemoglobin in Young Women after consuming SF and guava in SMP 19 Jambi City year 2019 is 13.15 g/dl. Statistical test results There is an influence of consuming SF and guava juice on the hemoglobin levels of young women in Junior High School 19 Jambi City year 2019 with sig value (2-tailed) count 0.000 < 0.05. From the results of the study can be concluded that consuming SF in conjunction with guava juice can increase HB levels. Advice for health workers, especially midwives, to provide services related to the management of anemia in young women of high school students by doing prevention through counseling.


2022 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
Author(s):  
Murray Drummond ◽  
Claire Drummond ◽  
Sam Elliott ◽  
Ivanka Prichard ◽  
Jamie-Lee Pennesi ◽  
...  

Girls' and young women's engagement and disengagement in physical activity has been well documented in Western culture. Sport plays a pivotal role in the development of behaviours that promote physical activity, particularly through commitment to team and individual goal attainment, socialisation, and feelings of belonging and self-identity. Community sport in Australia is the dominant pathway into state, national, and elite international competition. The importance of community sport in the lives of girls and young women cannot be overstated, irrespective of individual long-term sporting goals. Indeed, the dropout rate of girls in sports, like many other western cultures is significant and is certainly disproportionate to the numbers of boys who drop out. The present study aims to examine the intrapersonal, interpersonal, and environmental influences on community sporting pathways for girls and young women. Using a mixed-methods design, we include survey data from 2,189 high-school students (aged 12–18 years) and focus group and individual interview data from a subset of 37 high-school students, parents, and teachers, across metropolitan Adelaide, South Australia. The study included an examination of sporting practises and insights of male sport participants from the same age groups to juxtapose the findings and provide a more comprehensive understanding of girls' and young women's community sporting involvement. Parents and teachers were also included within the participant cohort to provide a comprehensive perspective. The results highlight the challenges that girls face with respect to engagement and disengagement in sport and particular points throughout their adolescent years. Recommendations are provided to help mitigate potential attrition of girls in sport in the future.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kjetil Lygre ◽  
Bjørnar Hallaråker Røsvik ◽  
Espen Storheim ◽  
David Forcucci ◽  
Ignatius Rigor ◽  
...  

&lt;p&gt;This communication project aims to increase our understanding of climate processes, the Arctic and the importance of research through the active involvement of primary to junior high school students. The project is based on NERSC's ongoing activity in the Arctic Sea, collaborating with several projects and utilizing a concept introduced by the US Coast Guard. Students of four primary schools in western Norway produced a total of 230 small wooden boats.&amp;#160; Together with a comparable number of boats produced by US students they were subsequently launched on the ice in the Arctic Ocean by the coast guard ship KV Svalbard in August and November 2020 as part of scientific cruises. Scientific buoys were also launched, transmitting their position and surface temperature. Through a dedicated web-site students and teachers could follow the drift in near real time. Boats are uniquely branded with a web address, so they may be reported if found after drifting ashore.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The project website serves both as a communication hub between scientists and students and teachers and to reach out to a wider audience. Several films were produced in this regard. Webinars were held by NERSC scientists on climate and ocean science topics and crew members from K/V Svalbard on work and life onboard a coast guard vessel. Feedback from the teachers will also be presented.&lt;/p&gt;


Author(s):  
Lakshmi Prayaga ◽  
James W. Coffey ◽  
Karen Rasmussen

The process of game development can be used as a highly motivating learning experience geared to the teaching and learning of a variety of skills in students of varying ages. This article presents a description of a conceptual framework for teaching and learning based on game creation, including pedagogical foundations, a model of instruction for game development, age-related issues relative to learning tasks, and the basic aspects of game development. The authors compare the expectations for types of concepts and technologies employed with middle and high school students versus those employed with college-level students in game development. Projects that illustrate these differences are then presented, and the article closes with a summary and conclusions.


1999 ◽  
Vol 27 (3) ◽  
pp. 319-330 ◽  
Author(s):  
Izabela Sorić

Cognitive appraisal and state anxiety of 137 high school students were examined immediately before school examination, immediately after the examination and immediately after the announcement of grades (one week later). Situational coping responses were assessed immediately after the examination. Social evaluation trait anxiety was measured two weeks before the examination in an unstressful (neutral) situation. The results show that the social evaluation trait anxiety predicts state anxiety both before and after the school examination and, in addition to this, an important role is played by the perception of threat and uncontrollability in this situation. The use of specific strategies of coping was also determined by both the personality and the perception of the examination situation, wherein the different strategies were determined by different sets of variables. Success in the examination was best predicted by the social evaluation trait anxiety, by problem focused coping and by coping through imagination-rumination (negative relation). In general, the results of the present study provide additional support for the interactional model of stress and anxiety.


2017 ◽  
Vol 23 (8) ◽  
pp. 787-796 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susan D. Mayes ◽  
Rosanna P. Breaux ◽  
Susan L. Calhoun ◽  
Sara S. Frye

Objective:Prevalence of dysgraphia by age across all grade levels was determined in students with ADHD or autism. Method: Referred children with normal intelligence and ADHD–Combined, ADHD–Inattentive, or autism ( N = 1,034) were administered the Developmental Test of Visual-Motor Integration (VMI) and Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC). Results: VMI and WISC Coding scores were significantly lower than IQ and the normal mean of 100 for all diagnoses. More than half (59%) had dysgraphia, and 92% had a weakness in graphomotor ability relative to other abilities. Dysgraphia prevalence did not differ between diagnostic or age groups (6-7 years, 56%; 8-10 years, 60%; and 11-16 years, 61%). Conclusion: Dysgraphia is common at all ages in children and adolescents with ADHD and autism. Accommodations and strategies for addressing this problem are discussed.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document