Breakfast Frequency and Composition in a Group of Polish Children Aged 7–10 Years

Breakfast is considered one of the crucial elements of a healthy diet. Most studies evaluate breakfast consumption with the risk of obesity and other health effects. Less attention is paid to the evaluation of breakfast composition and patterns. Thus, this study aimed to describe the most frequently observed breakfast patterns and to assess breakfast composition and quality in a group of Polish early school-age children. The cross-sectional survey study was conducted in school years 2017/2018 and 2018/2019. Information regarding breakfast was obtained with the use of an original paper-based weekly observation diary, and breakfast quality was assessed with a special scoring designed to be used together with the diary. In total, 223 schoolchildren of the second and third grades participated in the study, and 200 diaries were analyzed. More than ¾ of the participants consumed breakfast every day. Nearly 68% of meals were classified as well balanced, but only 16.5% of children eat a well-balanced breakfast every day. The number of children who usually (≥5 times per week) eat a sandwich for breakfast was 94 (47%), and that of those who habitually eat cereal and milk or porridge was 29 (14.5%). Only 7% of children consumed fruit or vegetables for breakfast daily, and 26.5% never eat fruit or vegetables for breakfast. Concluding, most children eat breakfast regularly, but the meal composition and quality might be improved.

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Familial Correlates of Leisure Time Activities among Polish Early School-Age Children: A Cross-Sectional Study

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18073704 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (7) ◽

pp. 3704

Author(s):

Anna Kawalec ◽

Krystyna Pawlas

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Screen Time ◽

Leisure Time ◽

Leisure Time Physical Activity ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

School Age Children ◽

School Age ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Early School ◽

Early School Age

The after-school period may play a critical role in the accumulation of children’s physical activity and sedentary time. The study aimed to characterize familial correlates of early school-age children’s leisure time activities. A cross-sectional study was conducted among a group of 223 children (mean age 8.7 ± 0.5) and their parents. The percentage of children with daily leisure time physical activity (LTPA) >1 h was 23.32%, and with daily screen time <2 h was 32.74%. The average children’s leisure time physical activity was significantly higher on weekend days than on weekdays (114.85 vs. 89.43 min, p = 0.005). Similarly, the average screen time was higher on weekend days than on weekdays (95.50 vs. 66.10 min, p < 0.001). The multivariate regression analysis revealed that independent predictors of children’s leisure time physical activity were the father’s education level and the father’s occupational status, whereas at least one parent with higher education correlated negatively with children’s longer screen time. The study showed that children’s leisure time activities are associated with parental education and differ significantly between weekdays and weekend days. These findings underline the need for screening for unfavorable health behaviors among early school-age children, and indicate that health promotion programs should be oriented on both parents and children aiming to improve parental health consciousness, reduce screen time and increase physical activity, especially during the weekend.

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The Efficacy of an Explicit Intervention Approach to Improve Past Tense Marking for Early School-Age Children With Developmental Language Disorder

Journal of Speech Language and Hearing Research ◽

10.1044/2020_jslhr-20-00132 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 1-14

Author(s):

Samuel D. Calder ◽

Mary Claessen ◽

Susan Ebbels ◽

Suze Leitão

Keyword(s):

Language Disorder ◽

Control Measures ◽

School Age Children ◽

Past Tense ◽

School Age ◽

Developmental Language Disorder ◽

Post Intervention ◽

Standardized Measures ◽

Early School ◽

Early School Age

Purpose The aim of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of a theoretically motivated explicit intervention approach to improve regular past tense marking for early school-age children with developmental language disorder (DLD). Method Twenty-one children with DLD (ages 5;9–6;9 [years;months]) were included in a crossover randomized controlled trial (intervention, n = 10; waiting control, n = 11). Intervention included once-weekly sessions over 10 weeks using the SHAPE CODING system, in combination with a systematic cueing hierarchy to teach past tense marking. Once the first group completed intervention, the waiting control group crossed over to the intervention condition. The primary outcome was criterion-referenced measures of past tense marking with standardized measures of expressive and receptive grammar as the secondary outcome. Ancillary analyses on extension and behavioral control measures of morphosyntax were also conducted. Results There was a significant Time × Group interaction ( p < .001) with a significant difference in pre–post intervention improvement in favor of the intervention group ( p < .001, d = 3.03). Further analysis once both groups had received the intervention revealed no improvement for either group on past tense production during the 5-week pre-intervention period, significant improvement pre–post intervention ( p < . 001, d = 1.22), with gains maintained for 5 weeks postintervention. No significant differences were found on pre- to postintervention standardized measures of grammar, or on extension or control measures. Conclusions The efficacy of the theoretically motivated explicit grammar intervention was demonstrated. Results contribute to the evidence base supporting this intervention to improve past tense production in early school-age children with DLD, suggesting it is a viable option for clinicians to select when treating morphosyntactic difficulties for this population. Supplemental Material https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.13345202

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An exploratory study of the association between reactive attachment disorder and attachment narratives in early school-age children

Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry ◽

10.1111/j.1469-7610.2009.02075.x ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 50 (8) ◽

pp. 931-942 ◽

Cited By ~ 76

Author(s):

Helen Minnis ◽

Jonathan Green ◽

Thomas G. O’Connor ◽

Ashley Liew ◽

D. Glaser ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Exploratory Study ◽

Reactive Attachment Disorder ◽

School Age Children ◽

School Age ◽

Attachment Disorder ◽

Early School ◽

Reactive Attachment ◽

Early School Age

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Praziquantel treatment coverage among school age children against Schistosomiasis and associated factors in Ethiopia: a cross-sectional survey, 2019

BMC Infectious Diseases ◽

10.1186/s12879-020-05519-0 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 20 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Yilma Chisha ◽

Zerihun Zerdo ◽

Mekuria Asnakew ◽

Chuchu Churko ◽

Manaye Yihune ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Treatment Approach ◽

Public Health Problem ◽

Integrated Treatment ◽

School Enrollment ◽

World Health ◽

School Age Children ◽

School Age ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Treatment Coverage

Abstract Background World Health Organization estimated that 779 million people are at risk of getting schistosomiasis (SCH) and 240 million people were infected worldwide. SCH due to Schistosoma mansoni (S. mansoni) is a wide public health problem in Ethiopia. The aim of the survey was to quantify national and district disaggregated treatment coverage status for SCH and compare validated coverage with the one reported. Methods Community based cross-sectional survey was conducted in April 2019 among households with school age children (SAC) 5–14 years in seven purposively selected districts of the country. Segments to be surveyed were randomly selected and households to be interviewed from each segment were determined using systematic sampling technique. A total of 3378 households visited and 5679 SAC (5–14 years) were interviewed. Results Overall reported treatment coverage of Praziquantel (PZQ) against SCH was 4286 (75.5%). Males were 27% more likely to swallow the drug (AOR = 1.27; 95% CI: 1.09, 1.47) than females. SAC with age 10–14 years were 45% more likely to swallow the drug compared with their counter parts (5–9 years), (AOR =1.45; 95% CI: 1.25, 1.69). There is statistically significant association between PZQ swallowing status with school enrollment. (AOR = 20.90, 95% CI: 17.41, 25.08). Swallowing status of PZQ against SCH significantly higher for SAC treated in districts applied integrated treatment approach (87.5%) compared with SAC treated in vertical treatment approach (72.5%); P-value < 0.001. SACs were asked for reasons for not taking the drug and the main reported reason for not swallowing PZQ in the present study was none attending of the school. Conclusions Over all treatment coverage of PZQ against SCH in the present study was 75.5%. Although it is in accordance with WHO recommendation for Ethiopia, national programmatic improvements are necessary to achieve higher coverage in the future. To increase treatment coverage for PZQ against SCH in Ethiopia, school based training should target all schools. Moreover, mobilization, sensitization and implementation of the community wide treatment need to be improved.

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