Child Day Care Center Use and Mental Stress of Working Mothers

Background: Some of the working mothers use child day care center (CDCC) for their children to reduce their mental stress. This study was designed to assess the association between mental stress of working mothers and child day care center use. Methods: This comparative cross sectional study was conducted among 106 working mothers of whom 53 were CDCC users and 53 were non-users from January to December, 2019. Data were collected by face to face interview by a semi-structured questionnaire. Mental stress was estimated by Perceived Stress Scale (PSS). Data were analyzed by the Statistical Package for Social Sciences. Quality control checks for data were done. All ethical issues were maintained strictly in different stages of the study and informed written consent was taken from each individual. Results: Mean (±SD) age was 32.92(± 2.901) and 33.55(± 3.160) years in CDCC users and non-users respectively. Average monthly family income was Tk.191698.11 in CDCC users and Tk. 209433.96 in non-users. Majority (67.9%) of the CDCC users lived in nuclear family while 67.9% of the CDCC non-users lived in joint family. Mothers had significantly higher (85.5%) stress who had maid servant in comparison to mothers who had not and mothers had higher (75.0%) stress who suffered from illness compared to mothers who did not suffer and it was significant (p<0.05). Both low (61.5%) and moderate (59.4%) stress were significantly higher among CDCC users while high stress (83.3%) was significantly higher among CDCC non-users. Chance of having low stress was high (OR=8.0) in mothers who were CDCC users than mothers who were CDCC non-users. Conclusion: CDCC non-users had high level of mental stress than the CDCC users. CDCC should be established with every organization to reduce the mental stress of working mothers. JOPSOM 2021; 40(1): 59-65

SARS-CoV-2 Transmissibility Within Day Care Centers—Study Protocol of a Prospective Analysis of Outbreaks in Germany

Introduction: Until today, the role of children in the transmission dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 and the development of the COVID-19 pandemic seems to be dynamic and is not finally resolved. The primary aim of this study is to investigate the transmission dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 in child day care centers and connected households as well as transmission-related indicators and clinical symptoms among children and adults.Methods and Analysis: COALA (“Corona outbreak-related examinations in day care centers”) is a day care center- and household-based study with a case-ascertained study design. Based on day care centers with at least one reported case of SARS-CoV-2, we include one- to six-year-old children and staff of the affected group in the day care center as well as their respective households. We visit each child's and adult's household. During the home visit we take from each household member a combined mouth and nose swab as well as a saliva sample for analysis of SARS-CoV-2-RNA by real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (real-time RT-PCR) and a capillary blood sample for a retrospective assessment of an earlier SARS-CoV-2 infection. Furthermore, information on health status, socio-demographics and COVID-19 protective measures are collected via a short telephone interview in the subsequent days. In the following 12 days, household members (or parents for their children) self-collect the same respiratory samples as described above every 3 days and a stool sample for children once. COVID-19 symptoms are documented daily in a symptom diary. Approximately 35 days after testing the index case, every participant who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 during the study is re-visited at home for another capillary blood sample and a standardized interview. The analysis includes secondary attack rates, by age of primary case, both in the day care center and in households, as well as viral shedding dynamics, including the beginning of shedding relative to symptom onset and viral clearance.Discussion: The results contribute to a better understanding of the epidemiological and virological transmission-related indicators of SARS-CoV-2 among young children, as compared to adults and the interplay between day care and households.

Psychological Correlates of (Non)Use of Formal Resources by Family Caregivers of People With Dementia

Caring for a relative with dementia is a stressful task characterized by a high number of demands extended in time. Therefore, caregivers frequently report the need for assistance to cope with the situation. However, formal resources use is low among that population. The objective of this study was to explore the correlates of (non)use of formal resources (day care center and home care) by family caregivers of people with dementia. Participants were 225 dementia family caregivers that were individually assessed in a) use of formal resources, b) sociodemographic variables, c) stressors (frequency and reaction to behavioral problems), and d) psychological variables (depression, anxiety, and dysfunctional thoughts about caregiving). A logistic regression was done comparing those who used formal resources with those who did not use them. Caregivers who did not use formal resources were younger (OR = .95; 95% CI [.92 - .98]), devoted more daily hours to caring (OR = 1.07; 95% CI [1.02 - 1.11]), reported higher levels of dysfunctional thoughts about caregiving (OR = 1.07; 95% CI [1.04 – 1.10]) and higher anxiety levels (OR = 1.07; 95% CI [1.00- 1.13]), and their care-recipient had a higher functional autonomy (OR = 1.04; 95% CI [1.02 – 1.05]). Higher levels of anxiety and dysfunctional thoughts in caregivers may be act as barriers to seek for formal support. Targeting these variables may help to increase the use of formal resources by family caregivers of people with dementia.

Robot-Enhanced Language Learning for Children in Norwegian Day-Care Centers

In a case study, we transformed the existing learning program Language Shower, which is used in some Norwegian day-care centers in the Grorud district of Oslo municipality, into a digital solution using an app for smartphones or tablets with the option for further enhancement of the presentation by a NAO robot. The solution was tested in several iterations and multiple day-care centers over several weeks. Measurements of the children’s progress across learning sessions indicated a positive impact of the program using a robot as compared to the program without a robot. In situ observations and interviews with day-care center staff confirmed the solution’s many advantages, but also revealed some important areas for improvement. In particular, the speech recognition needs to be more flexible and robust, and special measures have to be in place to handle children speaking simultaneously.

Robot-Enhanced Language Learning for Children in Norwegian Day-Care Centers

We transformed the existing learning program Language Shower, which is used in some Norwegian day-care centers in the Grorud district of Oslo municipality, into a digital solution using an app for smartphone or tablet with the option for further enhancement of presentation by a NAO robot. The solution was tested in several iterations and multiple day-care centers over several weeks. Measurements of the children’s progress across learning sessions indicate a positive impact of the program using a robot as compared to the program without robot. In-situ observations and interviews with day care center staff confirmed the solution’s many advantages, but also revealed some important areas for improvement. In particular, the speech recognition needs to be more flexible and robust, and special measures have to be in place to handle children speaking simultaneously.

Carriage of Streptococcus Pneumoniae In Unvaccinated Toddlers At The Time of Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine Implementation Into The National Immunization Program In Poland

We investigated pneumococcal carriage among unvaccinated children under five years of age at the time of conjugate polysaccharide vaccine (PCV) introduction into the national immunization program (NIP). Paired nasopharyngeal swab (NPS) and saliva samples collected between 2016 and 2020 from n=394 children were tested with conventional culture and using qPCR. The carriage rate detected by culture was 25.4% (97 of 394), by qPCR 39.1% (155 of 394), and 40.1% (158 of 394) overall. The risk of carriage was significantly elevated among day care center attendees, and during autumn/winter months. Among strains cultured, the most common serotypes were: 23A, 6B, 15BC, 10A, 11A. The coverage of PCV10 and PCV13 was 23.2% (23 of 99) and 26.3% (26 of 99), respectively. Application of qPCR lead to detection of 168 serotype carriage events, with serogroups 15, 6, 9 and serotype 23A most commonly detected. Although the highest number of carriers was identified by testing NPS with qPCR, saliva significantly contributed to the overall number of detected carriers. Co-carriage of multiple serotypes was detected in 25.3% (40 of 158) of carriers. Results of this study represent a baseline for the future surveillance of effects of pneumococcal vaccines in NIP in Poland.

Vivências da terapia ocupacional em um centro dia para idosos/ Experiences of occupational therapy in a day-care center for elderly

Contextualização: O objetivo deste artigo é apresentar as vivências da Terapia Ocupacional em um Centro-Dia para idosos, na cidade do Recife, como práticas de estágio supervisionado, no ano de 2019. Processo de intervenção: As intervenções foram voltadas principalmente para o resgate da funcionalidade e manutenção das habilidades cognitivas e demonstraram efetividade ao longo dos atendimentos. Análise crítica da prática: A experiência evidencia um perfil de idosos com demências e outras condições de saúde que comprometam a realização das atividades de vida diária. Portanto, reforça-se a importância do terapeuta ocupacional nos Centros-Dia, para a recuperação da saúde e autonomia dos indivíduos.Palavras-chave: Terapia Ocupacional. Pessoa Idosa. Centro- Dia. AbstractContextualization: The aim of this article is to present the Occupational Therapy experiences in a day care center for the elderly in Recife, as supervised internship practices, in 2019. Intervention process: The interventions were mainly focused on the rescue of functionality and maintenance of cognitive skills and demonstrated effectiveness throughout the sessions. Practice analysis: The experience shows a profile of elderly with dementia and other health conditions compromise the performance of activities of daily living. Therefore, the importance of occupational therapist in Day Centers is reinforced for the recovery of health and autonomy of individuals.Keywords: Occupational therapy. Aged. Day Care. ResumenContextualización: El objetivo de este artículo es presentar las experiencias de Terapia Ocupacional en una guardería para ancianos en Recife, como prácticas supervisadas, en 2019. Proceso de intervención: Las intervenciones se centraron principalmente en el rescate de la funcionalidad y el mantenimiento de las habilidades cognitivas y demostraron efectividad a lo largo de las sesiones. Análisis crítico de la práctica: La experiencia muestra un perfil de ancianos con demencia y otras condiciones de salud que comprometen el desempeño de actividades de la vida diaria (AVD). Por lo tanto, la importancia del terapeuta ocupacional en los centros de día se refuerza para la recuperación de la salud y la autonomía de las personas.Palabras-clave: Terapia ocupacional. Anciano. Centros de Día.