The looked-after child in time: Creating and analysing longitudinal data on placement history and educational outcomes

Background with rationaleThe Scottish government collects data on Looked-after-children (LAC) from the 32 local authorities (LAs) in Scotland. Since 2008, the LAs have provided individual data on a yearly basis that covers every child who was looked after at any time during the year up to the Census date. These data have been linked to data on educational outcomes for these children. Cross-sectional analysis by the Scottish Government show that the educational outcomes for these children are much poorer than for other children in Scotland. This presentation will discuss methods to create a longitudinal data set from these data and thus infer how a child’s lifetime history of care relates to their educational outcomes. Main AimTo relate the children’s educational outcomes (school attendance and exclusion) to their history of being in care. Features of their care history include, age a start of care, number and type of care episodes (e.g. at home, with relatives, in foster care or residential care) as well as their legal reasons for being in care. Methods/ApproachThese data present a number of challenges to achieving the aim. The process of creating longitudinal records from nine cross-sectional samples revealed many data problems. A child’s history in care can potentially last from birth to aged 16, or even older, but the data available was for a nine-year window (2008 to 2017) along with some details of episodes that started before 2008 for those in care later. Individual histories were either right-censored or left-truncated. The latter posed a bigger problem for our analyses since most of the early history is missing for a large proportion of the children. The methods used involved using multiple imputation methods to infer the age at start of care and the number of previous episodes for these children. ResultsWe will compare the results from the longitudinal analyses with those obtained from cross-sectional results. ConclusionLongitudinal data provides the opportunity to understand which patterns of care are associated with the poorest educational outcomes.

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Reported Neighborhood Traffic and the Odds of Asthma/Asthma-Like Symptoms: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of a Multi-Racial Cohort of Children

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18010243 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 18 (1) ◽

pp. 243

Author(s):

Sarah Commodore ◽

Pamela L. Ferguson ◽

Brian Neelon ◽

Roger Newman ◽

William Grobman ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Maternal Education ◽

Ethnic Disparities ◽

Traffic Density ◽

Public Parks ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Public Health Burden ◽

Child Health Outcomes ◽

History Of ◽

Study Participants ◽

Sectional Analysis

Asthma in children poses a significant clinical and public health burden. We examined the association between reported neighborhood traffic (a proxy for traffic-related air pollution) and asthma among 855 multi-racial children aged 4–8 years old who participated in the Environmental Influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) cohort. We hypothesized that high neighborhood traffic density would be associated with the prevalence of asthma. Asthma/asthma-like symptoms (defined as current and/or past physician diagnosed asthma, past wheezing, or nighttime cough or wheezing in the past 12 months) was assessed by parental report. The relationship between neighborhood traffic and asthma/asthma-like symptoms was assessed using logistic regression. The prevalence of asthma/asthma-like symptoms among study participants was 23%, and 15% had high neighborhood traffic. Children with significant neighborhood traffic had a higher odds of having asthma/asthma-like symptoms than children without neighborhood traffic [adjusted OR = 2.01 (95% CI: 1.12, 3.62)] after controlling for child’s race-ethnicity, age, sex, maternal education, family history of asthma, play equipment in the home environment, public parks, obesity and prescribed asthma medication. Further characterization of neighborhood traffic is needed since many children live near high traffic zones and significant racial/ethnic disparities exist.

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Potential value of the current mental health monitoring of children in state care in England

BJPsych Open ◽

10.1192/bjo.2018.70 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 4 (6) ◽

pp. 486-491 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Christine Cocker ◽

Helen Minnis ◽

Helen Sweeting

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Missing Data ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Population Level ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Data Set ◽

Looked After Children ◽

Education Data ◽

Sample Attrition ◽

Aggregate Population

BackgroundRoutine screening to identify mental health problems in English looked-after children has been conducted since 2009 using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ).AimsTo investigate the degree to which data collection achieves screening aims (identifying scale of problem, having an impact on mental health) and the potential analytic value of the data set.MethodDepartment for Education data (2009–2017) were used to examine: aggregate, population-level trends in SDQ scores in 4/5- to 16/17-year-olds; representativeness of the SDQ sample; attrition in this sample.ResultsMean SDQ scores (around 50% ‘abnormal’ or ‘borderline’) were stable over 9 years. Levels of missing data were high (25–30%), as was attrition (28% retained for 4 years). Cross-sectional SDQ samples were not representative and longitudinal samples were biased.ConclusionsMental health screening appears justified and the data set has research potential, but the English screening programme falls short because of missing data and inadequate referral routes for those with difficulties.Declaration of interestNone.

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Natural history of fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva: cross-sectional analysis of annotated baseline phenotypes

Orphanet Journal of Rare Diseases ◽

10.1186/s13023-019-1068-7 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 14 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Robert J. Pignolo ◽

Geneviève Baujat ◽

Matthew A. Brown ◽

Carmen De Cunto ◽

Maja Di Rocco ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Natural History ◽

Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Cross Sectional Analysis ◽

History Of ◽

Sectional Analysis

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Do Black Lives Matter in the American Public’s Mitigation Responses to the Covid-19 Pandemic? A Cross-Sectional Analysis of Mask Wearing and Racial/ethnic Disparities in Deaths from COVID-19 in the United States

10.21203/rs.3.rs-445021/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Berkeley Franz ◽

Adrienne Milner ◽

Jomills H. Braddock

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Residential Segregation ◽

Ethnic Disparities ◽

The United States ◽

Ethnic Composition ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Public Health Challenges ◽

History Of ◽

Sectional Analysis ◽

Racial Ethnic

Abstract Background: Anti-black and anti-Hispanic attitudes in the U.S. must be included in efforts to understand resistance to public health measures, such as mask wearing, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Focusing on the structural and individual context of racism will enable us to improve public health and better prepare for future public health challenges. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between mask usage, racial segregation, and racial disparities in COVID-19 deaths.Methods: We used linear regression to assess whether the racial/ethnic composition of deaths and residential segregation predicted Americans’ decisions to wear masks in July 2020. Results: After controlling for mask mandates, mask usage increased when the White death rates relative to Black and Hispanic rates increased. Conclusions: Mask wearing may be shaped by an insensitivity to Black and Hispanic deaths and a corresponding unwillingness to engage in health protective behaviors. The broader history of systemic racism and residential segregation may also explain why white Americans do not wear masks or perceive themselves to be at risk when communities of color are disproportionately affected by COVID-19.

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Eating alone at each meal and associated health status by cohabitation situation among Japanese community-dwelling elderly: a cross-sectional analysis of the KAGUYA study

10.21203/rs.3.rs-49187/v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Osamu Kushida ◽

Jong-Seong Moon ◽

Daisuke Matsumoto ◽

Naomi Yamasaki ◽

Katsuhiko Takatori

Keyword(s):

Health Status ◽

Functional Capacity ◽

Health Status Indicators ◽

Subjective Health ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Care Needs ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Cross Sectional Analysis ◽

History Of ◽

Sectional Analysis

Abstract Background: This study investigated the association between eating alone at each meal and health status including functional capacity according to cohabitation situation among Japanese community-dwelling elderly.Methods: This was a cross-sectional analysis of baseline data from the Keeping Active across Generations Uniting the Youth and the Aged (KAGUYA) study in Japan. A self-administered questionnaire was mailed to all 8004 residents aged 65 or older residing in the same Japanese town the participants in March 2016. Eating alone was assessed by first asking whether participants ate three separate meals each day (i.e., breakfast, lunch, and dinner), and those who answered affirmatively were then asked how many people were usually present at each meal. Health status was assessed in terms of subjective health, medical history, care needs, body mass index, depression, and functional capacity.Results: Data from 3057 respondents were analyzed. Among those living with others, those who reported not being in good subjective health and a history of hypertension were significantly more likely to eat alone at breakfast (odds ratio 1.27; 95% confidence interval 1.01–1.61, and 1.26; 1.06–1.49). Depressive symptoms and many subscales of functional capacity were also significantly associated with eating alone at breakfast, lunch, and dinner (P < 0.05). Among those living alone, those eating alone at breakfast had lower scores for indicators of functional capacity including information practice (P = 0.010) and total scores (P = 0.049).Conclusions: For both cohabitation situations, many health status indicators were related to eating alone at each meal, especially breakfast.

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Self-reported sleepiness and not the apnoea hypopnoea index is the best predictor of sleepiness-related accidents in obstructive sleep apnoea

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-020-72430-8 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

Author(s):

P. Philip ◽

S. Bailly ◽

M. Benmerad ◽

J. A. Micoulaud-Franchi ◽

Y. Grillet ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Obstructive Sleep Apnoea ◽

Traffic Accidents ◽

Sleep Apnoea ◽

Near Miss ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Periodic Leg Movements ◽

Obstructive Sleep ◽

History Of ◽

Respiratory Polygraphy ◽

Sectional Analysis

Abstract To evaluate the value of apnoea + hypopnoea index versus self-reported sleepiness at the wheel in anticipating the risk of sleepiness-related accidents in patients referred for obstructive sleep apnoea. A cross-sectional analysis of the French national obstructive sleep apnoea registry. 58,815 subjects referred for a suspicion of obstructive sleep apnoea were investigated by specific items addressing sleepiness at the wheel and sleepiness-related accidents. Apnoea + hypopnoea index was evaluated with a respiratory polygraphy or full polysomnography. Subjects had a median age of 55.6 years [45.3; 64.6], 65% were men, with a median apnoea + hypopnoea index of 22 [8; 39] events/h. Median Epworth sleepiness scale score was 9 [6; 13], 35% of the patients reported sleepiness at the wheel (n = 20,310), 8% (n = 4,588) reported a near-miss accident and 2% (n = 1,313) reported a sleepiness-related accident. Patients reporting sleepiness at the wheel whatever their obstructive sleep apnoea status and severity exhibited a tenfold higher risk of sleepiness-related accidents. In multivariate analysis, other predictors for sleepiness-related accidents were: male gender, ESS, history of previous near-miss accidents, restless leg syndrome/periodic leg movements, complaints of memory dysfunction and nocturnal sweating. Sleep apnoea per se was not an independent contributor. Self-reported sleepiness at the wheel is a better predictor of sleepiness-related traffic accidents than apnoea + hypopnoea index.

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Fetal Echocardiography:Short Term Profile from Shahid Gangalal National Heart Centre, Kathmandu, Nepal

Nepalese Heart Journal ◽

10.3126/njh.v13i1.14538 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 13 (1) ◽

pp. 9-12

Author(s):

Sudhir Regmi ◽

Deewakar Sharma

Keyword(s):

Pregnant Women ◽

Congenital Heart ◽

Fetal Echocardiography ◽

Tertiary Care ◽

Outcome Data ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Vitro Fertilization ◽

History Of ◽

Sectional Analysis

Background and Aims: Fetal echocardiography is helpful in early detection of Congenital Heart Disease. Our study was conducted to evaluate the most common indications of referral and outcome in a tertiary-care fetal echocardiography practice.Methods: A Cross-sectional analysis of all pregnant women referred by obstetricians to cardiology unit for fetal echocardiography over a 1-year period (July 2014 and July 2015) was performed. The primary indications for referral for fetal echocardiography were obtained from the obstetric referral forms. Outcome data were extracted from performa containing client’s demographic, physical examination and the fetal echocardiograhic data. Postnatal Echocardiography was advised to all cases having positive echocardiographic finding.Results: A series of 251 fetal cardiac studies were reviewed. Average gestational age was 25.6 weeks (range, 18 to 38 weeks). Thirty-eight (15.1%) pregnant women had abnormal fetal cardiac findings. The most common referral for fetal cardiac scan was related to maternal indications (48.6%). Other indications were abnormal prenatal fetal findings in ultrasonography (23.1%), family history of CHD (12%), general screening (15.5%), and follow up of IVF (In-vitro fertilization) (0.8%). The highest yield of significant abnormal findings was there among patients referred with abnormal prenatal fetal finding in ultrasonography (47%).Conclusion: Majority of referral were for abnormal prenatal ultrasonographic findings. So, fetal Echocardiography is an important part of overall management of the pregnancy at risk for producing an infant with congenital heart disease.Nepalese Heart Journal 2016; 13(1): 9-12

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Cross-sectional analysis of the prevalence and predictors of statin utilisation in Ireland with a focus on primary prevention of cardiovascular disease

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2017-018524 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 8 (2) ◽

pp. e018524 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Paula Byrne ◽

John Cullinan ◽

Catríona Murphy ◽

Susan M Smith

Keyword(s):

Cardiovascular Disease ◽

Cardiovascular Risk ◽

Primary Prevention ◽

Sociodemographic Factors ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Factors Associated ◽

History Of ◽

Base Category ◽

Sectional Analysis ◽

Prevention Of Cardiovascular Disease

ObjectiveTo describe the prevalence of statin utilisation by people aged over 50 years in Ireland and the factors associated with the likelihood of using a statin, focusing particularly on those using statins for primary prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD).MethodsThis is a cross-sectional analysis of cardiovascular risk and sociodemographic factors associated with statin utilisation from wave 1 of The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing. A hierarchy of indications for statin utilisation, consisting of eight mutually exclusive levels of CVD-related diagnoses, was created. Participants were assigned one level of indication. The prevalence of statin utilisation was calculated. The likelihood that an individual was using a statin was estimated using a multivariable logistic regression model, controlling for cardiovascular risk and sociodemographic factors.ResultsIn this nationally representative sample (n=5618) of community-dwelling participants aged 50 years and over, 1715 (30.5%) were taking statins. Of these, 65.0% (57.3% of men and 72.7% of women) were doing so for the primary prevention of CVD. Thus, almost two-thirds of those taking statins did so for primary prevention and there was a notable difference between women and men in this regard. We also found that statin utilisation was highest among those with a prior history of CVD and was significantly associated with age (compared with the base category 50–64 years; 65–74 years OR 1.38 (95% CI 1.16 to 1.65); 75+ OR 1.33 (95% CI 1.04 to 1.69)), living with a spouse or partner (compared with the base category living alone; OR 1.35 (95% CI 1.10 to 1.65)), polypharmacy (OR 1.74 (95% CI 1.39 to 2.19)) and frequency of general practitioner visits (compared with the base category 0 visits per year; 1–2 visits OR 2.46 (95% CI 1.80 to 3.35); 3–4 visits OR 3.24 (95% CI 2.34 to 4.47); 5–6 visits OR 2.98 (95% CI 2.08 to 4.26); 7+ visits OR 2.51 (95% CI 1.73 to 3.63)), even after controlling for clinical need. There was no association between using statins and gender, education, income, social class, health insurance status, location or Systematic Coronary Risk Evaluation (SCORE) risk in the multivariable analysis.ConclusionStatin utilisation among those with no history of CVD accounted for almost two-thirds of all statin use, in part reflecting the high proportion of the population with no history of CVD, although utilisation rates were highest among those with a history of CVD.

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Household food insecurity and educational outcomes in school-going adolescents in Ghana

Public Health Nutrition ◽

10.1017/s1368980020001974 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 1-13

Author(s):

Rainier Masa ◽

Gina Chowa

Keyword(s):

Food Insecurity ◽

Educational Outcomes ◽

School Attendance ◽

School Lunch ◽

Moderating Effect ◽

Household Food Insecurity ◽

Design Data ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Negatively Associated ◽

Household Food

Abstract Objectives: We examined the association of household food insecurity with educational outcomes and explored the moderating effect of gender and school lunch programme. Design: The study used a cross-sectional design. Data were collected in 2014 using interviewer-administered questionnaires and school administrative records. We measured household food insecurity using the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale. Educational outcomes referred to knowledge, attitudes and skills that students are expected to obtain while attending school. We obtained sixteen different measures of educational outcomes, ranging from academic grades to beliefs and attitudes towards school and education. Data were analysed using multilevel modelling with covariates at the student and school levels. We conducted moderation tests by adding a two-way interaction between food insecurity and gender, and between food insecurity and school lunch programme. Setting: The study was conducted in 100 schools located in fifty-four districts within Ghana’s eight administrative regions in 2014. Participants: Participants included 2201 school-going adolescents aged 15–19 years. Results: More than 60 % of adolescents were from food-insecure households. Household food insecurity was negatively associated with Math grade and school attendance. Food insecurity was also inversely associated with socio-emotional outcomes, including academic self-efficacy, commitment to school and academic aspirations and expectations. We did not find a moderating effect of gender and school lunch programme. Conclusions: Food insecurity is negatively associated with wide-ranging educational outcomes related to both learning and socio-emotional abilities. Our study supports prior evidence suggesting the importance of food access on both cognitive and non-cognitive educational outcomes.

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Unemployment in Ghana: a cross sectional analysis from demand and supply perspectives

African Journal of Economic and Management Studies ◽

10.1108/ajems-11-2014-0089 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 6 (4) ◽

pp. 402-415 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

William Baah-Boateng

Keyword(s):

Household Survey ◽

Baseline Survey ◽

Labour Demand ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Data Set ◽

Demand And Supply ◽

Content Type ◽

Cross Sectional Analysis ◽

Nationally Representative ◽

Sectional Analysis

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to analyse the causes of unemployment in Ghana from both labour demand and supply perspectives based on most recent cross sectional data set from one nationally representative household survey and a baseline survey for Millennium Development Support. Design/methodology/approach – A logit regression estimation technique is applied to two different household survey data sets of 2008 and 2013 to capture the effect of labour demand and supply on unemployment. Findings – Using education and age as capability variables to represent supply factors, unemployment is found to increase with education, and declines with age, confirming higher unemployment rate among the youth, than the old. The paper also observes strong influence of demand factors on unemployment based on relatively higher incidence of unemployment fulltime jobseekers relative to part-time jobseekers and seekers of formal or wage-employment and self-employment or SMEs compared with those seeking any job. Other factors such as the individual’s reservation wage, marital status, sex and poverty status as well as their rural-urban location are also found to cause unemployment in Ghana. Practical implications – Unemployment as a result of the inability of individuals to obtain a job of their choice in the midst of strong economic growth in Ghana suggests weak employment content of growth. In contrast, an increasing phenomenon of unemployment with education also reflects a problem of skill mismatch between skills churn out by education and training institutions and skills requirement by firms in the labour market. Originality/value – The originality of the paper and its contribution to existing literature largely emanate from the inclusion of demand factors in a cross sectional analysis of causes of unemployment.

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