Maternal and early life exposures and their potential to influence development of the microbiome

At the dawn of the twentieth century, the medical care of mothers and children was largely relegated to family members and informally trained birth attendants. As the industrial era progressed, early and key public health observations among women and children linked the persistence of adverse health outcomes to poverty and poor nutrition. In the time hence, numerous studies connecting genetics (“nature”) to public health and epidemiologic data on the role of the environment (“nurture”) have yielded insights into the importance of early life exposures in relation to the occurrence of common diseases, such as diabetes, allergic and atopic disease, cardiovascular disease, and obesity. As a result of these parallel efforts in science, medicine, and public health, the developing brain, immune system, and metabolic physiology are now recognized as being particularly vulnerable to poor nutrition and stressful environments from the start of pregnancy to 3 years of age. In particular, compelling evidence arising from a diverse array of studies across mammalian lineages suggest that modifications to our metagenome and/or microbiome occur following certain environmental exposures during pregnancy and lactation, which in turn render risk of childhood and adult diseases. In this review, we will consider the evidence suggesting that development of the offspring microbiome may be vulnerable to maternal exposures, including an analysis of the data regarding the presence or absence of a low-biomass intrauterine microbiome.

An analysis of the Gender and Social Determinants of Health in Urban Poor Areas of the Most Populated Cities of Pakistan

Background: Recent surveys, studies and reviews have highlighted the impacts of social inequities on access of women and children to health services for women and children in Pakistan. Utilising mixed methods for urban slum profiles, and facility and coverage surveys in 4431 urban poor areas of the top 10 highly populated cities of Pakistan, this paper describes and analyses the complex interactions between economic, social and gender determinants of health care access and considers health policy and program options for addressing them. Results: Findings are classified into six analytic categories of (1) access to health services, (2) female workforce participation, (3) gender friendly health services, (4) access to schools and literacy, (5) social connections, and (6) autonomy of decision making. Out of a national sample of 14,531 children in urban poor areas of 10 cities, the studies found that just over half of the children are fully immunised (54%) and 14% of children had received zero doses of vaccine. There are large shortages of health facilities and female health workforce in the slums, with significant gaps in the quality of health infrastructure, which all serve to limit both demand for, and supply of, health services for women and children. Results demonstrate low availability of schools, low levels of female literacy and autonomy over decision making, limited knowledge of the benefits of vaccination, and few social connections outside the home. All these factors interact and reinforce existing gender norms and low levels of health literacy and service access. Conclusion: The Urban Slum profiles and coverage studies provide an opportunity to introduce gender transformative strategies that include expansion of a female health workforce, development of costed urban health action plans, and an enabling policy environment to support community organisation and more equitable health service delivery access.

Biofortified Maize Improves Selenium Status of Women and Children in a Rural Community in Malawi: Results of the Addressing Hidden Hunger With Agronomy Randomized Controlled Trial

Background: Selenium deficiency is widespread in the Malawi population. The selenium concentration in maize, the staple food crop of Malawi, can be increased by applying selenium-enriched fertilizers. It is unknown whether this strategy, called agronomic biofortification, is effective at alleviating selenium deficiency.Objectives: The aim of the Addressing Hidden Hunger with Agronomy (AHHA) trial was to determine whether consumption of maize flour, agronomically-biofortified with selenium, affected the serum selenium concentrations of women, and children in a rural community setting.Design: An individually-randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled trial was conducted in rural Malawi. Participants were randomly allocated in a 1:1 ratio to receive either intervention maize flour biofortified with selenium through application of selenium fertilizer, or control maize flour not biofortified with selenium. Participant households received enough flour to meet the typical consumption of all household members (330 g capita−1 day−1) for a period of 8 weeks. Baseline and endline serum selenium concentration (the primary outcome) was measured by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS).Results: One woman of reproductive age (WRA) and one school-aged child (SAC) from each of 180 households were recruited and households were randomized to each group. The baseline demographic and socioeconomic status of participants were well-balanced between arms. No serious adverse events were reported. In the intervention arm, mean (standard deviation) serum selenium concentration increased over the intervention period from 57.6 (17.0) μg L−1 (n = 88) to 107.9 (16.4) μg L−1 (n = 88) among WRA and from 46.4 (14.8) μg L−1 (n = 86) to 97.1 (16.0) μg L−1 (n = 88) among SAC. There was no evidence of change in serum selenium concentration in the control groups.Conclusion: Consumption of maize flour biofortified through application of selenium-enriched fertilizer increased selenium status in this community providing strong proof of principle that agronomic biofortification could be an effective approach to address selenium deficiency in Malawi and similar settings.Clinical Trial Registration:http://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN85899451, identifier: ISRCTN85899451.

Investigation on the Needs of Preoperative Health Education of Parents, Whose Children Undergoing Day Surgery

BackgroundTo explore the needs of preoperative health education of parents，whose children undergoing day surgery, and to provide reference for nurses to carry out health education. MethodsThe parents whose children undergoing day surgery in Guangzhou Women and Children,s medical center from January 2021 to February 2021 were selected as the research objects. The needs of parents for preoperative health education were investigated by questionnaire, and the needs and satisfaction of parents for the timing, content, ways and push methods of preoperative health education were observed. Results591 questionnaires were distributed and 578 were recovered, with a recovery rate of 97.80%. The results showed that the parents had the highest demand for preoperative health education when they made an appointment for day surgery. The most desired content of health education was admission procedure, and the most desired way to receive health education was through video. The most acceptable push mode was through WeChat official account. Parents' satisfaction with the current health education was 94.64%. ConclusionsThe content of preoperative health education should be formulated according to the needs of parents, whose children undergoing day surgery. The time of providing health education should be moved forward. Health education videos should be given first, combined with a variety of health education methods, and health education videos should be pushed through WeChat official account or WeChat video number, so as to ensure the smooth development of children's day surgery and enhanced recovery after surgery.

Resilience and associated factors in women survivors of Intimate Partner Violence: a systematic review

Most research on Intimate Partner Violence against women (IPV) has tended to present women as passive victims, but in recent years, there has been an increase in studies adopting a strengths-based approach. The aim of the present study is to review the empirical literature about resilience in women survivors of IPV to (a) analyze the consensus on the definition and assessment of resilience; (b) study the correlates of resilience; and (c) reflect on the applicability of such knowledge in policies and professional practice. Following PRISMA guidelines, a systematic search was carried out in the Scopus, WoS and PsycINFO databases. The search yielded 42 articles published in English or Spanish over an unlimited timeframe. Results showed that process-oriented, trait-oriented, and outcomes-oriented definitions of resilience were all adopted in the research and that assessment methods also differed across studies. Individual, relational, and contextual factors were found as resilience correlates.There is a need for a theoretical consensus and for research on the mechanisms through which vulnerability or protective factors exert their influence on groups with specific risk conditions. Finally, governments and institutions should take actions to support women and children and to prevent future IPV. Gran parte de los estudios sobre Violencia de Género en la Pareja (VGP) presentan a las mujeres como víctimas pasivas, pero en los últimos años el número de investigaciones centradas en fortalezas está aumentando. El objetivo del presente estudio es revisar la literatura empírica sobre resiliencia en mujeres supervivientes de VGP para: (a) analizar el consenso en la definición y evaluación de resiliencia; (b) estudiar los correlatos del constructo; y (c) reflexionar sobre la aplicabilidad de este conocimiento en las políticas y la práctica profesional. Siguiendo las guías PRISMA, se realizó una revisión sistemática en las bases de datos Scopus, WoS y PsycINFO, encontrando 42 artículos publicados en inglés o español sin restricción temporal. Los resultados muestran que los estudios adoptan definiciones de resiliencia tanto orientadas al proceso como al rasgo y a los resultados, y que el método de evaluación difiere entre investigaciones. Entre los correlatos de resiliencia se encontraron factores individuales, relacionales y contextuales. Se necesita un consenso teórico y profundizar en los mecanismos por los cuales los factores de vulnerabilidad o protección afectan a grupos con riesgos específicos. Por último, los gobiernos e instituciones deberían emprender acciones de prevención y de apoyo a las mujeres e hijos/as.

Social Work in Kosovo, Development, Challenges and Achievements in Mitigating Negative Social Phenomena

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the importance and impact of Social Work in mitigating negative social phenomena in Kosovo. Kosovo is a country in transition, a country with a high level of education, low economic development, high unemployment rate, high poverty rate, political instability, where we conclude that the increase of negative social phenomena such as: violence in the family, trafficking in human beings, abused children, dysfunctional families, divorce, abuse with psychoactive substances by young people, determine the inevitable need for social work in Kosovo. The thesis of this study is: What is the impact of Social Work in Kosovo in preventing negative phenomena such as domestic violence, violence against women and children? The main focus of this study is the analysis on the necessity and need for strengthening Social Work in Kosovo, the efforts, challenges, confrontations and clashes between time periods and political changes and systems that have already led to a new understanding of Social Work in Kosovo. Within the paper, the main areas taken for study are related to the principles of social work, aspects of social work, the need for social work, professional opportunities in the field of social work and the role of the Social Worker, which are the main axis of this paper. The summary with conclusions and recommendations will be at the end of this.

Risk Factors of Stunting in Children Aged 6–59 Months: A Case-Control Study in Horticulture Area

BACKGROUND: Stunting is a critical public health problem in Indonesia because it affects cognitive and physical development and contributes to child mortality. AIM: This study aims to identify risk factors for stunting in children aged 6–59 in the horticultural area. METHODS: A casecontrol study was conducted to compare previous exposure between stunted children and non-stunted children. Measurements and interviews were conducted with 160 participants (120 controls and 40 cases), including mothers or caregivers. SPSS was used for χ2 statistical analysis, multiple logistic regression, and odds ratios. RESULTS: The study identified four risk factors for stunting: children who were born short (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 17.57; 95% confident interval [CI]: 5.02–61.51), LBW (AOR = 4.35; 95% CI: 1.38–13.78), and got a low protein intake (AOR = 4.96; 95% CI: 1.22–20.26). Significantly, a relationship between stunting and access to sanitation was also found (AOR = 6.06; 95% CI: 1.25–29.35). CONCLUSIONS: The risk factors for stunting in children aged 6–59 are related to nutrition during pregnancy and the child’s quality of food. Nutrition interventions should emphasize improving the nutritional status of pregnant women and children and women empowering to affect access to resources and allocations for children’s nutrition.

Personal Emergency Alert Device Containing Real-Time Location

Purpose–The purpose of this study is to develop a Personal Emergency Alert Device Containing Real-time Location which can be used by anyone particularly women and children who need help especially in times of emergency. Method–Arduino Nano, Global Positioning System, and Global System for Mobile Communication were utilized as the main components of the device, which was evaluated in the aspect of appearance through its size, weight, product design, casing, and functionality through its accuracy in displaying information, text messaging capabilities, and location tracking. In order to optimize the product’s specifications, it underwent assessment and evaluation by experts in the field. The study used product development design. There were twenty (20) respondents in total, comprising of five (5) Electronics Engineer and fifteen (15) Electronics Engineering students who were selected using purposive sampling techniques. The responses were gathered from the students by handing out questionnaires, which were eventually tallied, tabulated, processed and treated using statistical treatment.Results–The structure of the device is excellent. The product also passed the evaluation of the expert respondents in terms of functionality since it is excellent in accessing the information, delivering the right information, and finding exact locations. The device is thus functional as it serves its purpose.Conclusion–The structure of the device is excellent. The product also passed the evaluation of the expert respondents in terms of functionality since it is excellent in accessing the information, delivering the right information, and finding exact locations. The device is thus functional as it serves its purpose.Recommendations–It is recommended that the product developers should reduce the device size. They should also ensure that the casing and design are attractive to make the device noticeable. Moreover, to further improve the functionality of the device, product developers should track the exactlocation instead of coordinates. They should also consider which cellular network works best for different places. Lastly, to augment the results and findings of this study, further research undertakings on this topic should be conducted.Research Implications–The users of this product can help summon assistance in case of emergency. Practical Implications–Anyone who is experiencing emergency cases will just press the button for them to be tracked and be saved.