Use of a Move-on Component to Increase Consumption for a Clinical Paediatric Feeding Case In-Home

Research from specialised hospital feeding programmes in the United States has shown effectiveness of a variety of treatments for packing (not swallowing food or liquid in the mouth) to increase swallowing and consumption. One potential component used in clinical practice has not been evaluated in the literature to our knowledge. This component is move-on and involves moving on to the next bite presentation rather than waiting for swallowing (i.e., clean mouth). A 5-year-old female with autism spectrum disorder and avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder participated in a home setting in Australia. We used a withdrawal/reversal single-case experimental design for a move-on component added to a treatment package. With move-on added, latency to clean mouth decreased and consumption increased to 100%. After the treatment evaluation, additional procedures (interspersal, redistribution) were needed in full plate and portion meals. Food variety was increased to 116 regular texture foods across all food groups. All (100%) of admission goals were met. Parents were trained to high procedural integrity, and the protocol was generalised to the community. Gains maintained to 1-month follow-up.

Treatment for Younger Siblings of Participants in a Home-Based Intensive Paediatric Feeding Programme in Australia

Early childhood feeding problems can be challenging. Children who limit their food consumption may significantly impact multiple critical areas of development. Effective treatment should be accessed as early as possible but has been limited to a handful of US hospital programmes. Feeding problems affect both children with and without disability, and families may struggle with multiple children having feeding difficulties. We provided short-term (less than 2 weeks), in-home, intensive, behaviour-analytic feeding intervention to two children with typical development who were younger siblings of children already in the programme. We used a withdrawal/reversal design to assess the effects of nonremoval of the spoon, re-presentation, contingent and noncontingent access to tangibles, differential attention, and response cost. This multi-component intervention was effective in increasing the consumption of a wide variety of foods at regular texture and self-feeding for both participants. Variety was increased to over 60 foods from all food groups. Admission goals were met (100%). We trained caregivers to high procedural integrity and generalised the protocol. We provided actual plate picture examples of family meals consumed where the brothers and parents ate the same meal. Caregiver satisfaction and social acceptability were high. Gains were maintained at 3-year follow-up where parents reported problems were fully resolved.

Operational and procedural integrity of elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo

Malpractice has affected the integrity of elections in the DRC in its three recent democratic electoral cycles: 2006, 2011, and 2018, particularly the last cycle. However, even though national and international media indicate that the degree of threats to electoral integrity is more critical in the DRC than the rest of Africa, the problems in the DRC are similar to those encountered in the rest of the continent. Moreover, in terms of election integrity the DRC may be better rated than many other African countries. This is particularly true of francophone Africa, as well as the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) to which the DRC belongs. There are many good lessons learned from recent elections in the DRC which could inspire electoral authorities elsewhere in Africa and thus contribute to improving electoral integrity on the continent.