scholarly journals A norovirus gastroenteritis outbreak in an Australian child-care center: A household-level analysis

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (11) ◽  
pp. e0259145
Author(s):  
Nicolas Roydon Smoll ◽  
Arifuzzman Khan ◽  
Jacina Walker ◽  
Jamie McMahon ◽  
Michael Kirk ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Child Care ◽  
Care Center ◽  
Care Facility ◽  
Child Care Center ◽  
Child Care Centers ◽  
Gastroenteritis Outbreak ◽  
Household Level ◽  
Norovirus Gastroenteritis ◽  
Depth Analysis ◽  
Symptomatic Child

There is a large burden of norovirus disease in child-care centers in Australia and around the world. Despite the ubiquity of norovirus outbreaks in child-care centers, little is known about the extent of this burden within the child-care center and the surrounding household clusters. Therefore, we performed an in-depth analysis of a gastroenteritis outbreak to examine the patterns of transmissions, household attack rates and the basic reproduction number (R0) for Norovirus in a child-care facility. We used data from parental interviews of suspected cases sent home with gastroenteritis at a child-care center between 24th of August and 18th of September 2020. A total of 52 persons in 19 household clusters were symptomatic in this outbreak investigation. Of all transmissions, 23 (46.9%) occurred in the child-care center, the rest occurring in households. We found a household attack rate of 36.5% (95% CI 27.3, 47.1%). Serial intervals were estimated as mean 2.5 ± SD1.45 days. The R0, using time-dependent methods during the growth phase of the outbreak (days 2 to 8) was 2.4 (95% CI 1.50, 3.50). The count of affected persons of a child-care center norovirus outbreak is approximately double the count of the total symptomatic staff and attending children. In the study setting, each symptomatic child-care attendee likely infected one other child-care attendee or staff and just over one household contact on average.

scholarly journals Making Child Care Centers SAFER: A Non-Regulatory Approach to Improving Child Care Center Siting

2011 ◽  
Vol 126 (1_suppl) ◽  
pp. 34-40 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tarah S. Somers ◽  
Margaret L. Harvey ◽  
Sharee Major Rusnak
Keyword(s):  
Child Care ◽  
Care Center ◽  
Child Care Center ◽  
Child Care Centers ◽  
Regulatory Approach

scholarly journals Child Care in Times of COVID-19: Predictors of Distress in Dutch Children and Parents When Re-entering Center-Based Child Care After a 2-Month Lockdown

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sanne M. de Vet ◽  
Claudia I. Vrijhof ◽  
Shelley M. C. van der Veek ◽  
Jane M. Pieplenbosch ◽  
Hedwig J. A. van Bakel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Child Care ◽  
Separation Anxiety ◽  
Care Center ◽  
Child Care Center ◽  
Parental Separation ◽  
Child Care Centers ◽  
Parental Distress ◽  
Children And Parents ◽  
Dutch Children ◽  
Parental Separation Anxiety

As a consequence of the outbreak of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) child care facilities all over the world were temporarily closed to minimize the spread of the virus. In Netherlands, the first closure lasted for almost 2 months. The return to the child care center after this significant interruption was expected to be challenging, because earlier studies demonstrated that transitions into child care can be stressful for both children and their parents. The current paper retrospectively examined the distress of Dutch children (aged 0–4) and their parents during the first 2 weeks after the reopening of child care centers, and what factors accounted for individual differences in distress. In total, 694 parents filled out an online questionnaire about stress during closure and distress after the reopening of child care centers. Furthermore, questions regarding several demographic variables and child care characteristics were included, as well as questionnaires measuring child temperament, parental separation anxiety, and parental perception of the child care quality. Results showed that younger children and children with parents scoring higher on separation anxiety experienced more distress after the reopening, as reported by parents. Furthermore, children were more distressed upon return when they attended the child care center for less hours per week after the reopening, experienced less stress during closure, and grew up in a one-parent family. With regard to parental distress after the reopening, we found that parents scoring higher on separation anxiety and fear of COVID-19 experienced more distress. Moreover, parents experiencing less stress during closure and mothers were more distressed when the child returned to the child care center. Finally, concurrent child and parental distress after reopening were positively related. The results of the current study may help professional caregivers to identify which children and parents benefit from extra support when children return to the child care center after an interruption. Especially the role that parental separation anxiety played in predicting both child and parental distress deserves attention. More research is required in order to study the underlying mechanisms of these associations and to design appropriate interventions.

scholarly journals Systematic Review of Early Child Care Centers in Low- and Middle-Income Countries and Health, Growth, and Development Among Children Aged 0–3 Years (P11-052-19)

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Farah Behbehani ◽  
Eileen Dombrowski ◽  
Maureen Black
Keyword(s):  
Child Care ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Growth And Development ◽  
Care Center ◽  
Child Care Center ◽  
Child Care Centers ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Early Child ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Early Child Care

Abstract Objectives To examine associations between child care center attendance and child health, growth, and development in low-income and middle-income countries. Methods Searches were conducted in the following databases: PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, PsycInfo, and ERIC. Inclusionary criteria were comparison of child care center participation with a nonparticipation group, aged 0–3 years, publication 2000–2018, and an English translation. Exclusionary criteria were specialized groups, co-intervention, or studies focused exclusively on children over 3 years of age. Eleven studies met criteria: 7 from South America (Brazil), 2 from Africa (Nigeria), and 2 from Asia (Turkey and Nepal). Results Child care centers, often implemented to enable mothers to work, included private, nongovernmental, and public programs. Children of older, better-educated mothers tended to enroll in private centers, and children from low-income communities and backgrounds in public centers. Child care center participation was associated with discontinued breastfeeding and increased infections. In some cases, longer duration of child care attendance was associated with improved immunity and normal growth, especially for the youngest children. Child development findings were mixed. Policies guiding the programs varied across the countries where studies were conducted; most countries were underdeveloped. Conclusions Many LMIC are increasing their attention and support for early child care programs, often in support of maternal employment. By providing child care centers that are accessible, available, and affordable; that ensure safe and hygienic environments; and that include opportunities for age-appropriate activities and interactions with consistent and responsive caregivers, countries can promote young children's health, growth, and development. Policies, programs, and investments that support high-quality child care can not only support mothers in the work force, but also enhance the country's future by ensuring that young children receive the care and support needed to advance their development. Funding Sources RTI International. Partial funding from the National Institutes of Health - National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

Influenza Vaccine Requirements in United States Child Care Centers

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 566-572
Author(s):  
Timothy R Shope ◽  
Benjamin H Walker ◽  
Laura Aird ◽  
Linda Southward ◽  
Judith M Martin
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Child Care ◽  
High Risk ◽  
Influenza Vaccine ◽  
Care Center ◽  
Child Care Center ◽  
Child Care Centers ◽  
Child Care Center Directors ◽  
Adult Caregivers ◽  
Director Characteristics

Abstract Background Influenza vaccine is the most effective means to prevent influenza for the high-risk population of child care attendees. This national survey assessed child care center directors’ reports of seasonal influenza vaccine requirements for children and adult caregivers. Methods This was a 2016 telephone-based survey of child care center directors randomly selected from a national database of licensed United States child care centers and queried about influenza vaccine requirements. Conceptually related items were grouped into 4 indexes: general infection control, use of health consultants, quality of child care, and pandemic influenza preparedness. These indexes, along with other center and director characteristics, were used to predict director-reported influenza vaccine requirements. Results Of 518 child care center directors, only 24.5% and 13.1% reported an influenza vaccine requirement for children and adult caregivers, respectively. Center and director characteristics and the indexes were not associated with a director-reported influenza vaccine requirement. After adjusting for covariates, only having a state influenza vaccine law for children and an adult influenza vaccine requirement predicted having a child influenza vaccine requirement. Only having a child influenza vaccine requirement predicted having an adult vaccine requirement. Conclusions Director-reported influenza vaccine requirements for children and adult caregivers were influenced primarily by state influenza vaccine laws. Given the high risk of children in child care and low director-reported influenza vaccine requirements, more states should pass laws requiring influenza vaccine for children and adult caregivers at child care programs.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document