ObjectiveTo select a growth model that best describes individual growth trajectories of children and to present some growth characteristics of this population.SettingsParticipants were selected from ...a prospective cohort conducted in three health centres (Allada, Sekou and Attogon) in a semirural region of Benin, sub-Saharan Africa.ParticipantsChildren aged 0 to 6 years were recruited in a cohort study with at least two valid height and weight measurements included (n=961).Primary and secondary outcome measuresThis study compared the goodness-of-fit of three structural growth models (Jenss-Bayley, Reed and a newly adapted version of the Gompertz growth model) on longitudinal weight and height growth data of boys and girls. The goodness-of-fit of the models was assessed using residual distribution over age and compared with the Akaike Information Criterion (AIC) and Bayesian Information Criterion (BIC). The best-fitting model allowed estimating mean weight and height growth trajectories, individual growth and growth velocities. Underweight, stunting and wasting were also estimated at age 6 years.ResultsThe three models were able to fit well both weight and height data. The Jenss-Bayley model presented the best fit for weight and height, both in boys and girls. Mean height growth trajectories were identical in shape and direction for boys and girls while the mean weight growth curve of girls fell slightly below the curve of boys after neonatal life. Finally, 35%, 27.7% and 8% of boys; and 34%, 38.4% and 4% of girls were estimated to be underweight, wasted and stunted at age 6 years, respectively.ConclusionThe growth parameters of the best-fitting Jenss-Bayley model can be used to describe growth trajectories and study their determinants.
Testicular cancer is the most common cancer in young men. Its causes are largely unknown, although prenatal occupational and environmental exposures have been suggested. We investigated paternal ...occupational exposure to heavy metals and welding fumes and the risk of testicular germ cell tumors (TGCT) in their offspring. A total of 454 cases and 670 controls were included from a French nationwide case-control study. The INTEROCC job exposure matrix was used to assign occupational exposures (cadmium, chromium, iron, nickel, lead, and welding fumes) to the fathers' jobs. Odds ratios (ORs) for TGCT were estimated using conditional logistic regression models for frequency-matched sets. Three complementary analytical approaches were used: (1) single-agent analysis, (2) analysis by groups, and (3) principal component analysis (PCA). The proportion of paternal exposure to different heavy metals and welding fumes ranged from 0.7% (cadmium) to 11.3% (lead). Based on PCA, three principal components explained 93.5% of the cumulative variance. No associations were found between heavy metals or welding fumes and TGCT. In this study, paternal occupational exposure to heavy metals or welding fumes was not associated with TGCT development in their sons.
Studies suggest that elevated postnatal blood lead levels (BLLs) are negatively associated with child growth. This study aimed to investigate the associations of childhood BLLs at age one year and ...growth outcomes at age six years (n = 661) in a cohort of children in Allada, Benin. The growth outcomes studied are weight-for-age Z-score (WAZ), height-for-age Z-score (HAZ), BMI-for-age Z-score (BMIZ), weight-for-height Z-score (WHZ), head circumference (HC), growth velocities, underweight, stunting, and wasting. Multivariable regression models examined the associations between BLLs and growth outcomes, with adjustment for potential confounders. The geometric mean BLLs was 59.3 μg/L and 82% of children had BLLs >35 μg/L at the age of 12.8 months. After adjusting for confounding factors, no overall association was found between BLL quartiles and HAZ, WAZ, BMIZ, WHZ, growth velocities, wasting, and underweight. However, boys in the highest quartile had a 1.02 cm lower HC (95% CI: −1.81, −0.24) as compared to the lowest quartile. Furthermore, an increased odds of being stunted was observed in children in the highest quartile of exposure compared to the first (OR: 2.43; 95% CI: 1.11−5.33) which remained statistically significant only among girls in sex-specific strata. Blood lead was found to be associated with an increased risk of childhood stunting and a lower head circumference in a resource-limited setting.
IntroductionTesticular cancer is the most common cancer in young men. The causes are largely unknown, although prenatal occupational and environmental exposures have been suggested. We investigated ...associations between paternal occupational exposure to heavy metals and welding fumes at birth and the risk of testicular germ cell tumors (TGCT) in their sons.Material and MethodsFour hundred and fifty-four cases and 670 controls were included from TESTIS a French nationwide case-control study on TGCT. The INTEROCC job exposure matrix was used to assign occupational exposures (cadmium, chromium, iron, nickel, lead, and welding fumes) to the fathers’ jobs at birth, which we assumed as a proxy for exposure before and at conception. Odds ratios (ORs) for the risk of TGCT in adulthood were estimated using conditional logistic regression models for frequency-matched sets. Three complementary analytical approaches were used: 1) single-agent analysis, 2) analysis by group of exposures and 3) a principal component analysis (PCA).ResultsThe proportion of paternal exposure to different heavy metals and welding fumes ranged from 0.7% (cadmium) to 11.8% (lead). The correlation between heavy metals and welding fumes was found to be between moderate (Spearman rho = 0.62) and high (0.99). No significant associations were observed between paternal occupational exposure to heavy metals and welding fumes at birth and the development of TGCT in their sons, irrespective of the analytical approach used. Based on the PCA, three principal components explained 93.5% of the cumulative variance and confirmed the finding of no associations. Analyses by TGCT subtype (seminoma and non-seminoma) did not alter these findings.ConclusionsThis study did not find any evidence of an association between paternal occupational exposure to heavy metals and welding fumes and TGCT risk in their sons.
Human consumption of animal meat killed by lead ammunition has been reported as a risk factor for elevated blood lead levels. However, little is known about how meat killed by lead ammunition is ...hunted, prepared, sold, and consumed. We explored the process from hunting to consumption within communities in Benin from the perspective of preventive measures. We conducted 38 semi-structured interviews with hunters (
= 9) and sellers (
= 8) of bushmeat and families (
= 21) as consumers of bushmeat killed by lead ammunition. Data were transcribed, translated, and coded for analysis. We conducted content analysis to identify and describe key themes and processes from hunting to consumption. Many hunters (
= 7/9) used lead-based ammunition. After the meat is hunted, market sellers often buy it directly from the hunters. Amongst the hunters and sellers, few (
= 4/17) acknowledged removing the meat impacted by lead shot prior to sale. Many families (
= 15/21) mentioned consumption of the hunted bushmeat. The meat is cooked before sharing with children. Many families (
= 19/21) mentioned they look for the remains of the lead shot or remove the meat impacted by the shot. The finding suggests that hunting, sale, and consumption of bushmeat killed by lead ammunition are well-known practices in Allada, Benin. The bushmeat often hunted illegally with lead shot is sold in the markets and eventually consumed by families who attempt to clean the meat impacted by the lead shot before cooking it.
Lead exposure is associated with poor cognitive development in children. Very few studies in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) have studied blood lead levels (BLLs) and non-gasoline sources of exposure in ...children. Data from a birth cohort in Benin (2011-2013) suggested that 58% of 1-year-old children had BLLs > 50 ug/L. We aimed to investigate the prevalence of elevated BLLs (>50 µg/L and >100 µg /L) among 425 of these children at 6 years of age in 2016-2018 and to compare BLLs between age 1 and 6 years, and study sources of lead at age 6 years. BLLs were analysed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Multiple linear regression and quantile regressions were used to study potential sources of lead. The prevalence of BLLs > 50 µg/L in children was 59.5% (Geometric Mean (GM) 56.4 µg/L, 95% CI: 54.1-58.7) at 6 years of age compared to 54.8% (GM 56.5 µg/L, 95% CI: 53.4-59.6) at 1 year of age. The prevalence of children with BLLs > 100 µg/L decreased from 14.4% at 1 year of age to 8.2% at 6 years of age. After adjustment for all other covariates, consumption of peanuts more than once per month was significantly associated with a 22.0% (95% CI: 4.6, 42.5) increment in BLLs at age 6 years compared with no consumption. Consumption of bushmeat killed by lead bullets at age 6 years was associated with an increase in the higher percentiles of BLLs (P75) compared with the absence of this source. Other potential sources of lead associated with BLLs with marginal significance were consumption of rice, paternal occupational exposure, and the presence of activity with the potential use of lead. This prospective cohort confirms the persistently high prevalence of elevated BLLs in children residing in a rural region in the south of Benin, as well as the presence of multiple and continuous sources of lead. These results highlight the need for prevention programs to reduce and eliminate lead exposure in children.
The etiology of testicular germ cell tumors (TGCT) is suspected to be related to prenatal environmental risk factors. Some solvents have potential endocrine disrupting or carcinogenic properties and ...may disrupt male genital development in utero. The aim of this study was to examine the association between parental occupational exposure to solvents and TGCT risk among their offspring.
A French nationwide case-control study, TESTIS included 454 TGCT cases and 670 controls frequency-matched on region and 5-year age strata. Participants were interviewed via telephone and provided information on parental occupations at birth. Job-exposure matrices (JEM) developed in the French Matgéné program were used to assign exposure to five petroleum-based solvents, five solvents or groups of oxygenated solvents, and five chlorinated solvents. Odds ratios (OR) for TGCT and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were estimated using conditional logistic regression, adjusting for TGCT risk factors.
Occupational exposure to at least one solvent during the year of their son's birth was 41% among fathers and 21% among mothers. Paternal exposure to at least one solvent showed OR 0.89 (95% CI 0.68-1.15). Exposure to perchloroethylene (OR 1.41, 95% CI 0.55-3.61), methylene chloride (OR 1.13, 95% CI 0.54-2.34) and diesel/kerosene/fuel oil (OR 1.17, 95% CI 0.80-1.73) disclosed OR >1 but with low precision. Our results suggest a possible modest increase in non-seminoma risk for sons whose fathers were highly exposed to trichloroethylene (OR 1.44, 95% CI 0.79-2.63). Maternal exposure to at least one solvent showed OR 0.90 (95% CI 0.65-1.24). When stratifying by birth year, men born in the 1970s experienced an increased TGCT risk following maternal exposure to fuels and petroleum-based solvents (OR 2.74, 95% CI 1.11-6.76).
Overall, no solid association was found between parental occupational exposure to solvents and TGCT risk. The association found with maternal occupational exposure to fuels and petroleum solvents among older men needs further investigation.
Through the eyes of children Ahmadi, Shukrullah
Reflections on nursing leadership,
01/2014, Volume:
40, Issue:
3
Journal Article
Discussion of the effects of domestic violence on the health of women children in Afghanistan. The impact of witnessing acts of aggression and brutality on the lives of young boys is highlighted. ...Cultural issues in domestic violence are examined 0 references
PDF
