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A special issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (ISSN 1660-4601). This special issue belongs to the section "Children's Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 October 2023) | Viewed by 12100

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Ann M. Cheney

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Guest Editor

Department of Social Medicine Population and Public Health, University of California Riverside School of Medicine, Riverside, ‎CA 92501, ‎USA
Interests: health disparities research; meaning of food and feeding; nutrition and obesity

Dr. Alison Tovar

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Guest Editor

Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences, Brown University School of Public Health, Providence, RI 02903, USA
Interests: health disparities research; meaning of food and feeding; nutrition and obesity
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Early childhood is a critical period in the development, growth, and health of young children. The first 1000 days (conception–24 months) can provide a blueprint for future health behaviors, including sleep, physical activity, and feeding, and aide in the prevention of cardiometabolic diseases. There is a need for interventions that target this time to help shape these health behaviors, especially among historically marginalized populations. Thus far, interventions in early life primarily focus on behavior change of parents which often translates into engaging mother and child in intervention efforts. There is increasing recognition of the role of non-parent caregivers within family, community, healthcare systems, and policies in infant care which can influence children’s future habits and behaviors. Papers that address these topics, especially research that considers interventions that move beyond the mother–child dyadic and consider the systems of social influence (e.g., family, community, healthcare systems, politics) that shape infant health behaviors, are invited to a Special Issue.

Dr. Ann M. Cheney
Dr. Alison Tovar
Guest Editors

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Keywords

infant feeding practices
infant sleep
infant physical activity
health equity
health disparities
early childhood obesity
non-parental caregivers
family ecological model
social ecological model

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

11 pages, 317 KiB

Open AccessArticle

BabyByte: Qualitative Research to Inform the Development of an App to Improve Responsive Feeding Practices in Parents of Infants and Toddlers

by Amy R. Mobley, Danielle E. Jake-Schoffman, David A. Fedele, Elder Garcia Varela and Jamie Zeldman

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(6), 4769; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20064769 - 8 Mar 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2160

Abstract

Responsive feeding is associated with a reduced risk of childhood obesity. The objective of this qualitative study was to determine parental preferences for mobile health (mHealth) app content and features designed to improve responsive feeding practices. Parents of 0–2-year-old children were interviewed individually. Interview questions were informed by the Technology Acceptance Model, and parents provided feedback on sample app content and features. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and coded by two researchers using thematic analysis; responses were compared by parent gender and income. Parents (n = 20 fathers, n = 20 mothers) were, on average, 33 years old, low-income (50%), identified as non-white (52.5%), and had a bachelor’s degree or higher (62%). Overall, parents were most interested in feeding tips and recipe content, and app features that allowed tracking child growth and setting feeding goals. Fathers were most interested in content about first foods, choking hazards, and nutrition information, while mothers preferred content on breastfeeding, picky eating, and portion sizes. Parents with lower incomes were interested in nutrition guidelines, breastfeeding, and introducing solids. Non-low-income parents preferred information related to food allergies, portion sizes, and picky eating. The findings of this study provide considerations when developing mHealth apps to improve responsive feeding practices in parents. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Maternal and Child Nutrition and Health)

12 pages, 529 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Prevalence and Correlates of Stunting among Children Aged 6–23 Months from Poor Households in Rwanda

by Jean de Dieu Habimana, Aline Uwase, Noel Korukire, Sara Jewett, Maryse Umugwaneza, Lawrence Rugema and Cyprien Munyanshongore

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(5), 4068; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20054068 - 24 Feb 2023

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2633

Abstract

Stunted linear growth continues to be a public health problem that overwhelms the entire world and, particularly, developing countries. Despite several interventions designed and implemented to reduce stunting, the rate of 33.1% is still high for the proposed target of 19% in 2024. This study investigated the prevalence and associated factors of stunting among children aged 6–23 months from poor households in Rwanda. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 817 mother–child dyads (two individuals from one home) living in low-income families in five districts with a high prevalence of stunting. Descriptive statistics were used to determine the prevalence of stunting. In addition, we used bivariate analysis and a multivariate logistic regression model to measure the strength of the association between childhood stunting and exposure variables. The prevalence of stunting was 34.1%. Children from households without a vegetable garden (AOR = 2.165, p-value < 0.01), children aged 19–23 months (AOR = 4.410, p-value = 0.01), and children aged 13–18 months (AOR = 2.788, p-value = 0.08) showed increased likelihood of stunting. On the other hand, children whose mothers were not exposed to physical violence (AOR = 0.145, p-value < 0.001), those whose fathers were working (AOR = 0.036, p-value = 0.001), those whose parents were both working (AOR = 0.208, p-value = 0.029), and children whose mothers demonstrated good hand washing practice (AOR = 0.181, p-value < 0.001) were less likely to be stunted. Our findings underscore the importance of integrating the promotion of handwashing practices, owning vegetable gardens, and intimate partner violence prevention in the interventions to fight child stunting. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Maternal and Child Nutrition and Health)

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16 pages, 1696 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Mapping Local Variations and the Determinants of Childhood Stunting in Nigeria

by Kedir Y. Ahmed, Allen G. Ross, Seada M. Hussien, Kingsley E. Agho, Bolajoko O. Olusanya and Felix Akpojene Ogbo

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(4), 3250; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20043250 - 13 Feb 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2679

Abstract

Introduction: Understanding the specific geospatial variations in childhood stunting is essential for aligning appropriate health services to where new and/or additional nutritional interventions are required to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and national targets. Objectives: We described local variations in the prevalence of childhood stunting at the second administrative level and its determinants in Nigeria after accounting for the influence of geospatial dependencies. Methods: This study used the 2018 national Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey datasets (NDHS; N = 12,627). We used a Bayesian geostatistical modelling approach to investigate the prevalence of stunting at the second administrative level and its proximal and contextual determinants among children under five years of age in Nigeria. Results: In 2018, the overall prevalence of childhood stunting in Nigeria was 41.5% (95% credible interval (CrI) from 26.4% to 55.7%). There were striking variations in the prevalence of stunting that ranged from 2.0% in Shomolu in Lagos State, Southern Nigeria to 66.4% in Biriniwa in Jigawa State, Northern Nigeria. Factors positively associated with stunting included being perceived as small at the time of birth and experience of three or more episodes of diarrhoea in the two weeks before the survey. Children whose mothers received a formal education and/or were overweight or obese were less likely to be stunted compared to their counterparts. Children who were from rich households, resided in households with improved cooking fuel, resided in urban centres, and lived in medium-rainfall geographic locations were also less likely to be stunted. Conclusion: The study findings showed wide variations in childhood stunting in Nigeria, suggesting the need for a realignment of health services to the poorest regions of Northern Nigeria. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Maternal and Child Nutrition and Health)

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13 pages, 330 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Association of Maternal BMI with Overweight among Children Aged 0–59 Months in Kenya: A Nationwide Cross-Sectional Study

by Amos Mulu and Subas Neupane

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(2), 1413; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20021413 - 12 Jan 2023

Viewed by 1832

Abstract

Childhood overweight is a growing global public health challenge and is prevalent in many countries. We aimed at exploring the prevalence of childhood overweight and the association of maternal body mass index (BMI), maternal demographic factors, and child-related factors with childhood overweight among Kenyan children aged 0-59 months. This study utilized Kenya’s 2014 demographic and health survey, which was based on national representative cross-sectional data. A total of 8316 children and their mothers’ data were analyzed. Overweight in children and maternal BMI were defined using WHO standard criteria. Multivariate logistics regression models were used to study the association of maternal BMI and childhood overweight. Nationally 5% of Kenyan children aged 0–59 months are overweight (5.5% male vs. 3.8% female). The highest prevalence in overweight among children was found in Central region (6.9%) and lowest in North Eastern (3.1%) which could be explained by the various economic disparities. Maternal BMI with underweight was associated with lower odds (OR 0.30, 95% CI 0.14–0.64) whereas, overweight and obesity were associated with higher odds of overweight (OR for overweight 1.64, 95% CI 1.28–2.11 and OR for obesity 1.74, 95% CI 1.22–2.47) among their children compared to normal weight mothers. Overweight among children is of great concern and therefore initiatives to tackle both child and maternal health are urgently needed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Maternal and Child Nutrition and Health)

17 pages, 389 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Feeding and Activity Environments for Infants and Toddlers in Childcare Centers and Family Childcare Homes in Southeastern New England

by Patricia Markham Risica, Jacqueline M. Karpowicz, Tayla von Ash, Kim M. Gans, Kristen Cooksey-Stowers and Alison Tovar

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(15), 9702; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19159702 - 6 Aug 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2016

Abstract

Few studies have documented the food and physical activity (PA) environments of childcare settings caring for children <24 months of age, although they may be key contributors to developing child PA and diet patterns. We used an adapted Environment and Policy Assessment and Observation tool to assess the food and activity environments for infants and toddlers in childcare centers (n = 21) and family childcare homes (FCCH) (n = 20) and explored differences by childcare type. Many similarities were found between childcare site types; however, centers used more recommended feeding practices than FCCH (e.g., 100% of center providers talked with toddlers about feelings of hunger or fullness compared to 18% of family childcare providers (FCCP), p < 0.01). Differences in non-recommended feeding practices (e.g., spoon feeding, bottle propping and encouraging unhealthy foods) were mixed between childcare types. Toddlers in centers spent more time playing at higher PA levels than those in FCCH (61 vs. 13 min, p < 0.001). Screen time was observed in FCCH, but not in centers. Differences between childcare types may indicate differential influences on infant and toddler feeding and PA behaviors, which could predict disparate obesity risk. Future research should further observe these behaviors in a larger sample of centers and FCCH to inform childcare interventions and policies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Maternal and Child Nutrition and Health)

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