The pandemic has had a significant impact on the daily lives of children and their families, particularly the children of health care workers, due to changes in family routines as a result of their ...parents' work schedules. We aimed to explore the socioemotional and behavioural (SEB) problems of children of healthcare worker mothers (HCWM) during the COVID-19 pandemic and compare them with age-matched children and their mothers from other occupations.
A case-control study design was applied, and a snowball approach was used to enrol volunteered participants aged between 6 and 36 months of age, through a Google survey. We used the Brief Infant-Toddler Social and Emotional Assessment (BITSEA) questionnaire to assess children's SEB problems and a Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI) to evaluate the psychological distress of mothers. Differences in BITSEA, BSI and MSPSS scores were examined using chi-square and Mann-Whitney U tests, as appropriate. A logistic regression model was used to identify independent predictors of children's behavioural and emotional problems.
In total, 600 questionnaires were analysed. It was observed that children in the HCWM group were separated from their mothers more often and for longer periods of time than their counterparts (p < 0.010, p = 0.002). Changes in the child's structured outdoor activities during the pandemic period were more likely to be observed in the HCWM group (p < 0.05). The percentage of children with the BITSEA problem subscale above the subclinical cut-off, externalizing and dysregulation scores were significantly higher in the HCWM group (p = 0.044, p = 0.031, and p = 0.016). Moreover, each point increase in BSI global index scores (p < 0.001, RR:3.34, 95%CI:1.91-5.82) was found as a risk factor for clinically significant SEB problems.
Overall, the current study suggests HCWM's have experienced occupational inequality, and young children of HCWM's were at increased risk for externalizing and dysregulation problems during the pandemic. Maternal psychological stress had a significant impact on their children's socio-emotional well-being.
Background
The measurement of head circumference (HC) provides valuable anthropometric data for a child's growth during well child visits. There are few studies on the characteristics of macrocephaly ...(MC) diagnosed during well child visits. The aim of this study was to identify the characteristics of children with MC diagnosed during the well‐child visits.
Methods
This descriptive clinical study was carried out in the well child unit of a medical faculty hospital. The health records of all children who were followed up between 2004 and 2014 were reviewed. The records of children with the diagnosis of MC were evaluated. All children with MC had cranial ultrasonography, measurement of parental HC, and biochemistry. The HC measurements were carried out until 3 years of age in the unit.
Results
Ninety of 9,758 children (0.9%) had the diagnosis of MC. Of these children, 61% were male. Mean age at diagnosis was 2.7 months. The majority of children (63.3%) had familial MC. The other leading findings were isolated MC and hydrocephalus: two of eight children with hydrocephalus had delayed neuromotor development.
Conclusion
MC was not rare in the present well child unit population. The evaluation of parental HC and cranial ultrasonography might be important for the differential diagnosis.
Objective: Early weight loss percentile charts can be used to determine the expected weight loss of newborns. Mode of delivery has a marked
effect on weight loss in the immediate postpartum period. ...The aim in the present study was to construct weight loss percentile charts
according to mode of delivery in exclusively breastfed, healthy term infants during hospital stay.
Method: Weight loss in a large Turkish cohort of infants, born between January 1, 2011 and December 31, 2014, was evaluated retrospectively.
Data on healthy, term and exclusively breastfed neonates during the immediate postpartum hospital stay were collected. Weight change
percentile charts were plotted according to mode of delivery.
Results: The study encompassed 3247 exclusively breastfed neonates. Of infants 48.1% were girls. Mean gestational age was 38.94±0.84
(range 37-41) weeks and birth weight of infants was 3381.1±380.9 (range 2150-5190) grams. The rate of caesarean delivery was 69.3%. The
time of hospital stay of infants born by caesarean delivery was significantly longer than infants born vaginally. The frequency of weight
measurements of infants showed a statistically significant difference according to the type of delivery. Weight loss as a percentage of
birthweight for infants born by caesarean delivery were significantly greater at 24, 48, 72 and 84 hours after birth compared to those born
via vaginal delivery.
Conclusion: Plotted percentile charts according to mode of delivery will enable prediction of early weight loss immediately post-partum. In
addition, these percentile charts will help to reassure mothers and encourage breastfeeding exclusivity.
Objective: The greatest risk of morbidity and mortality from pertussis infection is observed among infants who are 6 months and
younger. Therefore protection from pertussis infection is very ...important during the first 6 months of life. The aim of the study is to
assess Bordetella pertussis antibody titers among infants after two doses of pertussis vaccination at 6 months of age.
Method: This was a prospective, multicentered cohort study. Paired maternal and infant serum samples were obtained during the
first month after delivery and only infant serum samples were again taken at 6 months of age. Serum samples were tested for
Bordetella pertussis-IgG by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).
Results: The study enrolled 209 mother-infant pairs. At one month after delivery 49.7% of mothers and 32.1% of infants had
detectable Bordetella pertussis-IgG antibodies. After two doses of DTaP-IPV-Hib vaccine, at 6th months of age, Bordetella pertussis-
IgG seroprevalence among infants increased to 43.3%.
Conclusion: After 2 doses of DTaP-IPV-Hib, more than half of the infants at 6 months of age had undetectable Bordetella pertussis-IgG
and presumed unprotected against pertussis disease. A new strategy of protecting infants from pertussis must be implemented.
Studies have shown that mothers sleeping with their babies have longer breastfeeding duration. Bedsharing (BS) is thought to be a risk factor for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. The aim was to ...investigate the frequency of BS and roomsharing (RS) and the effect of those on breastfeeding during the first 2 years of life. Also to evaluate risk-bearing situations regarding sleep environment.
This is a cross-sectional study, with retrospective cohort features for the evaluation of some data. The setting was a Well-Child Clinic at Bakırköy Research and Training Hospital. The children were followed from the first month until survey. Feeding history was collected retrospectively from child health records. Parents were surveyed concerning sleeping location and sleeping arrangements with a questionnaire. The study encompassed 351 children and their families.
The rate of exclusive breastfeeding was found to be 50.2% for the first 6 months of life and BS increased in exclusively breastfed infants. When breastfeeding continued after 6 months, the trend of increased BS through months was observed. RS, BS, and breastsleeping rates were 80.6%, 22.8%, 56.1%, respectively, in the whole cohort. Working mothers and mothers >35 years of age were significantly more likely to bedshare. Cigarette smoking in BS parents was identified as a child health risk. Unsafe sleep environment was found in 72.4% of the group.
BS increases breastfeeding for the first 6 months. Families need guidance on safe sleeping practices and should be advised regarding avoidable risks and unsafe situations in BS. Parents should be counseled to make informed decisions.
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