IntroductionMigration status is a key determinant of health, but health outcomes among migrant children and young people (CYP), that is, those aged under 18 years, are poorly understood. A ‘healthy ...migrant’ effect has been demonstrated among adults, but evidence for the same effect in CYP is lacking. No large studies or reviews exist reporting comprehensive or holistic health outcomes among migrant CYP. We aim to identify and synthesise original quantitative research on health of migrant CYP to explore the relations between migration status and health outcomes.Methods and analysisA search of PubMed/Medline, Embase, Cochrane and grey literature sites will be undertaken for any original quantitative research on health outcomes of migrant CYP from 01 January 2000 onwards. Outcomes addressed: mortality, communicable diseases, non-communicable diseases, nutritional status, mental health, disability, vaccine coverage, and accidental and non-accidental injuries (including assault and abuse). Search results will be screened and presented in a Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses flow diagram.The Newcastle–Ottawa Scale assessment tool will be used to assess study quality. If feasible, depending on study availability data heterogeneity (explored using I2 statistic), results will be pooled for meta-analysis. If sufficient data are available, a priori defined subgroup analyses will be undertaken. A narrative quantitative synthesis will be presented, taking account of study quality and assessed risk of bias.The anticipated search completion date is 01 June 2021 with write-up completed by 01 April 2022.Ethics and disseminationFormal ethical approval will not be sought as we will be accessing data already in the public domain. This review will be submitted for publication in a high-impact journal and presented at international conferences. The results of this work will be shared with groups of migrant children as part of an ongoing engagement project.PROSPERO registration numberCRD42020166305.
BackgroundHealthcare ethnography requires a conscious effort at objectivity because the method is inherently subjective. Qualitative research in newborn care in low-resource-settings, such as ...Zimbabwe, can present significant challenges and ethical dilemmas. This abstract presents an ethnographic study conducted in a low-resource setting in Zimbabwe, of the implementation of a newborn digital intervention (Neotree) designed to improve newborn care, comparing a period of crisis to normality.AimThe aim is to discuss the methodological implications of observational research and positionality during crisis within the newborn healthcare context, using Zimbabwe as a case-study.MethodsThe ethnographic observations focused on two main Neotree functions: data capture and emergency management/stabilisation. Two separate periods of observation took place at the hospital-intervention sites during a period of crisis (political instability) and normality. Clinicians using the Neotree were observed over a period of three weeks in each time-period. The observations were performed by a UK paediatric doctor (lead researcher) both alone and alongside a Shona speaking social scientist. The lead researcher held both an emic perspective; with detailed experience of the neonatal unit, having lived in Zimbabwe for the preceding three years, and an etic perspective as a non-Shona speaking observer.ResultsThree main factors influenced positionality: lead observer’s role as a doctor, with challenges around seniority and judgement, being a white female and the language. The lead researcher’s unique perspective holding both detailed knowledge of Neotree function and delivery of newborn-care offered constructive actionable insights which may not have been elicited by a social scientist alone. The importance of co-observers was essential in a challenging healthcare setting.ConclusionThe emic vs etic perspective is a key component when interpreting and understanding findings, particularly during crises. The benefits of healthcare professionals as lead observers can provide vital insights, particularly when related to implementation of healthcare interventions.
Background
Young people (YP) with long‐term conditions (LTCs) are at greater risk of psychological distress than those without LTCs. Despite this, there is a scarcity of quality digital interventions ...designed to help improve mental wellbeing in this population. The aim of this study was to determine what YP, parents and health professionals preferred for future interventions.
Methods
Twenty‐six YP with asthma, diabetes and/or epilepsy (the three most common LTCs in YP), 23 parents of YP with LTCs and 10 health professionals mainly in paediatric specialisms (total n = 59) took part in an online Delphi study to gain consensus (set at 75% agreement) on four questions across three rounds. Participants ordered psychological themes that may be experienced by YP with LTCs by importance and ranked digital intervention types and delivery modes by importance or usefulness. The most common results were reported if no consensus was reached by round 3.
Results
Participants preferred a mobile phone app (73% agreement) and a mixture of one‐on‐one and group support for an intervention (75% agreement). The two highest ranked psychological themes were anxiety (44%) and wanting to appear ‘normal’ (38%), and the top intervention type was ‘general counselling’ (54% agreement).
Conclusion
There was a clear desire for an app to help with the psychological aspects of living with LTCs and for a combination of one‐to‐one and group intervention elements. Anxiety and wanting to appear ‘normal’ might be two closely linked psychological challenges that could be addressed by a single intervention.
Implications
The results will be important to consider for a future intervention, although further consultation will be needed for app development.
Patient or Public Contribution
Two YP with a LTC provided feedback on the study protocol including the aims and procedures of the project. Another six YP with LTCs were consulted on an early draft of the study questionnaire (the four questions), which was subsequently revised. Once the project began, a patient and public involvement group consisting of two YP with LTCs and one parent of a YP with an LTC gave feedback on the research process, lay report of the results and dissemination plan.
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BFBNIB, DOBA, FZAB, GIS, IJS, IZUM, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VSZLJ
Variation in paediatric inpatient length of stay exists - whether this is driven by differences in patient characteristics or health service delivery is unclear. We will test the hypotheses that ...higher levels of deprivation are associated with prolonged length of stay and that differences in prolonged length of stay across 2 hospitals will be explained by demographic, clinical and process factors.
This is a retrospective cohort study of 2889 children aged less than 16 years admitted from 1st April 2009 to 30
March 2010. Administrative data were used from two UK hospitals whose Accident and Emergency (A&E) departments were paediatric and adult physician led respectively. The main outcome was prolonged length of stay defined as greater than or equal to the mean (1.8 days). Sensitivity analyses defined prolonged length of stay as greater than the median (1 day). Demographic, clinical and process characteristics were examined. Socio-economic position was measured by Income Deprivation Affecting Children Index. Multivariable logistic and linear regression analyses were performed.
We did not find a consistent association between length of stay and socio-economic position, using a variety of definitions of length of stay. In contrast, adjusted for age, gender, socio-economic position, ethnicity, final diagnosis, number of hospital admissions, source of admission, and timing of admission, admission to the adult led A&E hospital was more strongly associated with prolonged length of stay (Odds Ratio 1.41, 95% Confidence Interval 1.16, 1.71).
Local variation in paediatric inpatient length of stay was not explained by demographic, clinical or process factors, but could have been due to residual confounding by medical complexity. Length of stay was not consistently associated with socio-economic position suggesting that length of stay is a function of health service not the determinants of health. Analyses of these types of data would be strengthened by measures of complexity and adverse events.
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CEKLJ, DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
ObjectivesTo determine whether a panel of neonatal experts could address evidence gaps in local and international neonatal guidelines by reaching a consensus on four clinical decision algorithms for ...a neonatal digital platform (NeoTree).DesignTwo-round, modified Delphi technique.Setting and participantsParticipants were neonatal experts from high-income and low-income countries (LICs).MethodsThis was a consensus-generating study. In round 1, experts rated items for four clinical algorithms (neonatal sepsis, hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy, respiratory distress of the newborn, hypothermia) and justified their responses. Items meeting consensus for inclusion (≥80% agreement) were incorporated into the algorithms. Items not meeting consensus were either excluded, included following revisions or included if they contained core elements of evidence-based guidelines. In round 2, experts rated items from round 1 that did not reach consensus.ResultsFourteen experts participated in round 1, 10 in round 2. Nine were from high-income countries, five from LICs. Experts included physicians and nurse practitioners with an average neonatal experience of 20 years, 12 in LICs. After two rounds, a consensus was reached on 43 of 84 items (52%). Per experts’ recommendations, items in line with local and WHO guidelines yet not meeting consensus were still included to encourage consistency for front-line healthcare workers. As a result, the final algorithms included 53 items (62%).ConclusionFour algorithms in a neonatal digital platform were reviewed and refined by consensus expert opinion. Revisions to NeoTree will be made in response to these findings. Next steps include clinical validation of the algorithms.
Abstract Purpose Adequate nutrition during adolescence is important for optimal physical and cognitive development and for pregnancy either during adolescence or later life. Thinness among adolescent ...girls in low- and middle-income countries has been little studied. Methods We used body mass index data from 40 countries from the Global School Health Survey to estimate the prevalence of moderate and severe thinness in 12- to 18-year-olds using the World Health Organization 2007 growth reference. Self-report data on going to bed hungry were used as a proxy for household food insecurity. We used multilevel models to assess whether national wealth (gross domestic product), income inequality (Gini index), national gender inequality (Gender Inequality Index), and food security (Global Food Security Index) were associated with undernutrition. Results Prevalence rates of moderate and severe thinness across 61,603 girls from 40 countries were 6.30% (95% confidence interval CI: 5.71–6.95) and 1.34% (1.12–1.59), respectively, with higher rates in Asia. Combined moderate/severe thinness was more common among early (12–14 years) than later adolescents (15–18 years). Going to bed hungry sometimes was associated with increased risk of moderate/severe thinness (odds ratio OR: 1.102; 95% CI: 1.007–1.206). A significant inverse relationship was found between thinness and gross domestic product (OR: .94; 95% CI: .88–.99) and Global Food Security Index (OR: .96; 95% CI: .93–.99) but not Gini or Gender Inequality Index. Conclusion Thinness remains prevalent in adolescent schoolgirls in low- and middle-income countries and poses a significant threat to their health and that of the next generation. Further research is needed to assess potential interventions for this group.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZRSKP
Life-course studies are needed to explore how exposures during adolescence, particularly puberty, contribute to later cardiovascular risk and cognitive health in low and middle-income countries ...(LMIC), where 90% of the world's young people live. The extent of any existing cohorts investigating these outcomes in LMIC has not previously been described.
We performed a systematic literature review to identify population cohort studies of adolescents in LMIC that assessed anthropometry and any of cardiovascular risk (blood pressure, physical activity, plasma glucose/lipid profile and substance misuse), puberty (age at menarche, Tanner staging, or other form of pubertal staging) or cognitive outcomes. Studies that recruited participants on the basis of a pre-existing condition or involved less than 500 young people were excluded.
1829 studies were identified, and 24 cohorts fulfilled inclusion criteria based in Asia (10), Africa (6) and South / Central America (8). 14 (58%) of cohorts identified were based in one of four countries; India, Brazil, Vietnam or Ethiopia. Only 2 cohorts included a comprehensive cardiovascular assessment, tanner pubertal staging, and cognitive outcomes.
Improved utilisation of existing datasets and additional cohort studies of adolescents in LMIC that collect contemporaneous measures of growth, cognition, cardiovascular risk and pubertal development are needed to better understand how this period of the life course influences future non-communicable disease morbidity and cognitive outcomes.
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DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Women's groups practicing participatory learning and action (PLA) in rural areas have been shown to improve maternal and newborn survival in low-income countries, but the pathways from intervention ...to impact remain unclear. We assessed the long-term impact of a PLA intervention in rural Nepal on women's agency in the household. In 2014, we conducted a follow-up study to a cluster randomised controlled trial on the impact of PLA women's groups from 2001-2003. Agency was measured using the Relative Autonomy Index (RAI) and its subdomains. Multi-level regression analyses were performed adjusting for baseline socio-demographic characteristics. We additionally adjusted for potential exposure to subsequent PLA groups based on women's pregnancy status and conduct of PLA groups in areas of residence. Sensitivity analyses were performed using two alternative measures of agency. We analysed outcomes for 4030 mothers (66% of the cohort) who survived and were recruited to follow-up at mean age 39.6 years. Across a wide range of model specifications, we found no association between exposure to the original PLA intervention with women's agency in the household approximately 11.5 years later. Subsequent exposure to PLA groups was not associated with greater agency in the household at follow-up, but some specifications found evidence for reduced agency. Household agency may be a prerequisite for actualising the benefits of PLA groups rather than a consequence.
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DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK