Search Results (253)

Background: The 2022 conflict in Ukraine triggered mass migration, leading to a significant influx of Ukrainian refugee children into Poland. This situation raises concerns about hepatitis B virus immunity, as Ukraine’s hepatitis B vaccination coverage has been inconsistent compared to Poland’s high vaccination rates. Objective: To evaluate hepatitis B immunity and infection prevalence among Ukrainian refugee children residing in Southern Poland and to assess implications for vaccination strategies in the host country. Methods: A prospective cross-sectional study was conducted on 1322 Ukrainian refugee children (0–18 years) presenting to a pediatric infectious diseases department in Southern Poland between February 2022 and March 2024. Data on vaccination history, demographic characteristics, and selected laboratory parameters, including hepatitis B surface antigen and anti-HBs antibody levels, were collected. Protective immunity was defined as anti-HBs antibody levels ≥10 IU/L. Results: Among the participants (mean age 9.9 years; 50.2% female), 83.2% were reported as vaccinated according to national immunization programs, but only 64.9% demonstrated protective anti-HBs antibody levels. Protective antibody prevalence declined significantly with age, with less than half of adolescents aged 15–18 years showing immunity. Five children (0.4%) were diagnosed with chronic hepatitis B, four of whom were unvaccinated. Conclusions: This study identifies a significant gap in hepatitis B immunity among Ukrainian adolescent refugees residing in Southern Poland, with less than half possessing protective anti-HBs antibody levels. This immunity gap and the high risk of sexual transmission of the hepatitis B virus in adolescents highlight the urgent need for comprehensive surveillance, screening, and catch-up vaccination programs. Full article

Introduction: Dental caries and molar–incisor hypomineralisation (MIH) are prevalent conditions affecting children’s oral health, with functional, aesthetic, and psychosocial implications. In Spain, previous studies have highlighted geographic and sociodemographic disparities in their distribution, particularly among rural and migrant populations. Objective: To characterise oral health status, in terms of caries and MIH, among 6–7-year-old children from the towns of Palos de la Frontera, Mazagón, and San Bartolomé. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 229 children recruited from public primary schools. Sociodemographic, anthropometric, and behavioural data were collected through clinical examination and interview. Statistical analysis included univariate and multivariate logistic regression. The study protocol was approved by the Ethics Committee of Huelva. Results: The prevalence of caries (DMFT ≥ 1) was 53.3%, with mean DMFT and dft indices of 1.78 and 0.31, respectively. MIH affected 32.8% of the cohort, with a predominance in the first permanent molars (teeth 36 and 26). Multivariate analysis identified independent predictors of caries: African (OR = 7.47; 95% CI: 2.84–23.8) and European (OR = 4.56; 95% CI: 1.26–22.3) parental origin, poor oral hygiene (OR = 3.07; 95% CI: 1.60–6.03), and the presence of MIH (OR = 3.20; 95% CI: 1.64–6.42). The municipality of San Bartolomé was associated with a higher risk of MIH (OR = 2.90; 95% CI: 1.21–7.45). Conclusions: The high prevalence of caries and MIH in the Condado-Campiña district, exceeding national averages, reflects oral health inequities linked to social determinants (migrant origin, locality) and clinical factors (MIH, oral hygiene). Targeted preventive interventions are urgently needed in high-risk populations, including culturally tailored education and policies ensuring equitable access to dental care services. Full article

Consanguinity is the marriage of two related persons. This type of marriage is one of the main pillars when it comes to recessive hereditary diseases, birth defects, infertility, miscarriages, abortion, and infant deaths. Intermarriage continues to be a common practice in various communities in North Africa, the Middle East, and West and South Asia, as well as among migrants from Europe and North America, even though in more and more countries it has become illegal. Even if security and stability are some of the motivations for consanguineous marriage, studies show that women often suffer physical and verbal abuse from their husbands. However, because of the blood bond, tolerance for these habits is much higher. In addition, it seems that the divorce rate is much lower because separation would affect the entire state of the family. The choice of partner is significantly influenced by variables such as limited access to education and financial resources. Illiterate people coming from poor rural areas are much more likely to choose consanguineous marriage to maintain wealth in the family. The lack of medical knowledge about the negative effects of consanguinity leads to an increased rate of abortions, infant deaths, and births of children with congenital birth defects. Today, because of the process of urbanization and increased levels of knowledge, the younger generation is becoming increasingly less receptive to this particular form of marriage. In addition, as education has become more accessible to women, they have become more independent and eager to fulfill their own goals and not the wishes of the family. In conclusion, contrary to the many apparent advantages of consanguineous marriage, partners should put genetic risks first, as medical problems bring with them increased costs in the medical system and also within the family, leading to even lower economic status and consequently perpetuation of this type of marriage. Full article

Background/Objectives: Childhood anemia remains a serious public health issue, negatively affecting cognitive and psychomotor development, with repercussions on school performance and adult productivity. This study aimed to characterize the profile of children aged 6 months to 5 years diagnosed with or at risk of anemia who attended a pediatric hospital in Lisbon, Portugal. Methods: A hospital-based, cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted from September 2023 to September 2024. Descriptive statistics, including frequency distributions and cross-tabulations, summarized participant characteristics and key variables. Results: We observed that 33.3% (74/222) of the children were either anemic or at risk of anemia. Among these, 93.2% (69/74) were confirmed anemic or at risk based on hemoglobin levels. Five children (6.8%) had normal hemoglobin but abnormal red-cell indices, with microcytic (60.0%; 3/5) or normocytic (40.0%; 2/5) patterns. Anemia rates were higher in males (55.1%), children aged 24–59 months, those residing in the Metropolitan Lisbon Area (82.6%), children whose caregivers had only basic or secondary education (58.0%), and those whose mothers were born in foreign countries (48.4%). Microcytic red-cell indices were observed in 63.1% of cases. Serum iron results indicated that 32.0% were pre-anemic and 40.0% anemic. Ferritin levels showed iron-deficiency anemia in 22.2% of tested cases. In addition, 33.3% carried the sickle cell trait, and 35.0% had elevated C-reactive protein, suggesting anemia of inflammation. Conclusions: Anemia is a moderate public health issue, mainly affecting children with less-educated caregivers and migrant mothers. Targeted public health actions, including systematic screening, caregiver education, and multiculturally sensitive interventions, are crucial to address anemia. Full article

Participatory research with children presents a range of ethical challenges, particularly concerning power dynamics between adults and children in the research process. Factors such as the research setting, parental consent, the role of gatekeepers, interview dynamics, and the methods used can either facilitate or limit children’s participation. For migrant children and their families, specific issues like the language of communication, the materials developed for the study, socio-economic status, and migration-related vulnerabilities, such as sensitive experiences of (forced) migration, are especially important. This paper explores these ethical considerations through the lens of our research in the WoKidS project, which examines the subjective well-being of children (N = 84) aged 8 to 14, both with and without a migration background. The article is grounded in an ethical reflexivity approach, where multiple researchers involved in the study reflect on their experiences and practices while conducting research with (migrant) children. Full article

Recognising linguistic diversity as a person’s characteristic is arguably central to their multilingual identity and is important as an equity issue. Different indicators suggest that students with migrant backgrounds, whose linguistic diversity is often not reflected in European education systems, tend to underperform compared to their peers without migrant backgrounds. There is a dire need, therefore, to alleviate the educational inequalities that negatively affect some of the most plurilingual students in European school systems. This can be carried out by revisiting assessment tools. Developing assessments to make children’s full linguistic and cultural repertoire visible, and what they can do with it, is one way that potential inequalities in school systems and assessment practices can be addressed so that cultural and linguistic responsiveness of assessments and practices can be improved. This paper explores the concept of discontinuities or mismatches between the assessment of plurilingual children’s linguistic practices in one primary school in Catalonia and their actual linguistic realities, including heritage languages. It asks: (1) What are the children’s linguistic profiles? (2) What mismatches and/or educational inequalities do they experience? and (3) How does the co-creation and use of a rubric assessing plurilingual and intercultural competence attempt to mitigate these mismatches and inequalities? Mismatches are identified using a context- and participant-relevant reflection tool, based on 18 reflective questions related to aspects of social justice. Results highlight that mismatches exist between children’s plurilingual and intercultural knowledge and skills compared to the school, education system, curriculum, and wider regional and European policy. These mismatches highlight two plurilingual visions for language education. The paper highlights how language assessment tools and practices can be made more culturally and linguistically fair for plurilingual children with migration backgrounds. Full article

The procession of El Señor de los Milagros is a multitudinous religious manifestation originally from Peru that tours numerous cities around the world each year in October. In Barcelona (Spain), the procession centers the diverse dances performed in honor of the “Cristo Moreno”, especially La Marinera, which is considered the cultural heritage of the Peruvian nation and is performed mainly by dance groups formed by new generations of Peruvian migrants’ children. This article analyzes the relationship between new generations and the practice of dancing La Marinera in honor of El Señor de los Milagros in Barcelona. Our main methodological strategy was an ethnography focused on the processions held in Barcelona (Spain) in 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2022. We also conducted in-depth interviews with key informants and focus groups and a review of documents and historical information. In this article, we will show that the performance of the Marinera dance in the procession can foster a connection between young dancers and the worship of the Lord of Miracles. Its performance promotes the appreciation and safeguarding of this practice as a distinctive cultural and national element of Peru, also allowing for a public staging oriented toward spectacle, framed in a transnational and globalized context. Full article

The detection of “silent” poliovirus (PV) circulation among clinically healthy populations is an important component of supplementary surveillance for poliomyelitis. Migrants from countries or regions where polio is endemic, affected by outbreaks, or at risk may contribute to the introduction of PVs of epidemic significance: wild poliovirus type 1, vaccine-derived polioviruses (VDPVs), or poliovirus type 2 into polio-free countries. Migrant children, refugees under 5 years of age, are considered a “risk group” in Russia and are subject to testing for PVs. During 2014–2023, guided by the algorithm of virological and molecular investigation of acute flaccid paralysis cases recommended by the WHO, 51,548 migrant children, arriving from 40 countries, were examined. Among 4% of children excreting various cytopathogenic viruses, polio excretors accounted for 20.8%. Among the PVs, PV3 was predominant (41.7%), and PV types 2, 1, and a mixture of PVs accounted for, respectively, 28.2%, 18.8%, and 11.3%. All isolates of PVs 1 and 3 were identified as Sabin-like. The detection of five children excreting epidemically significant PV2 (four VDPV2 and one Sabin-like) required an assessment of the risk of dissemination and additional immunization activities. Among 580 identified isolates of NPEV, the most abundant was the E. betacoxsakie species at 73.8% (CVB1–6, E11, E6, E13, E7). Information on NPEVs expands our knowledge of the spectrum of NPEVs circulating among healthy children worldwide, but its prognostic significance is still unclear. The detection of PVs in children from the “risk group” allows targeted anti-epidemic measures and is a significant advantage of this type of supplementary surveillance for polio. Full article

The resettlement of development-induced migrants is a complex socioeconomic and cultural process. The levels of place identity among migrants may profoundly affect their long-term stability and sustainable development in host communities. For long-distance displaced migrants, their social relations undergo drastic changes, and the extent of social-relations reconstruction determines their place identity in the resettlement area. Previous studies mainly concentrated on migrant compensation schemes, housing, and land allocation, and livelihood restoration. However, insufficient attention has been paid to the mechanism by which social-relations reconstruction shapes place identity. Drawing on sample survey data collected during 2022–2023 from migrants displaced from the Three Gorges Dam (TGD) in China to various other provinces, this study conceptualizes place identity in three dimensions: group identity, permanent settlement intention, and expectations for children. A structural equation model (SEM) was employed to investigate how social relations, categorized as geographical, home-tied, and carried-over relations, mediate the influence of multiple factors on place identity. The findings are that: (1) among development-induced migrants, social relations exerted significant positive effects on place identity, along with personal characteristics, socioeconomic characteristics, land, and housing factors. Moreover, family features, socioeconomic characteristics, and land and housing factors all had a significantly positive impact on social relations; (2) social relations acted as a full mediator between family features and place identity, and a partial mediator between socioeconomic characteristics/land and housing factors and place identity; (3) among geographical, home-tied, and carried-over social relations, geographical social relations had the largest effect on place identity, followed by carried-over relations. However, continuous dependence on home-tied social relations negatively affected the migrants’ development of place identity in new resettlement areas. This study elucidates the role of social relations in the socioeconomic and cultural reconstruction during migrant resettlement, offering insight for improving resettlement policies and promoting sustainable community integration. Full article

This study examined the relationship between the urban dialect ability and academic performance of migrant children, as well as the role of school integration between the two. This study collected data from 1687 migrant children aged 5–15 from 28 county-level units (counties, districts, cities) in China, sourced from the 2010 China Education Panel Survey (CEPS). The research results indicate the following: (1) the urban dialect ability of migrant children has a significant positive impact on their academic performance. (2) School identification, peer–peer engagement, and peer acceptance, as the three dimensions of school integration, play a mediating role between the urban dialect ability and academic performance of migrant children. Overall, this study provides theoretical support and policy recommendations for promoting school integration and academic performance development for migrant children. Full article

This paper presents findings from an interview study of practices of home language socialization and maintenance of German among German-speaking migrants in northern Finland. The focus of the analysis was on the importance of the minority language German in families, the role of the regional varieties of German, different ways of socializing children with German, and informal and formal means of German language development and instruction reported by nine German-speaking parents and two bilingual teenagers in semi-structured interviews. Thematic analyses of the data showed that there are different beliefs and practices about home language acquisition and maintenance and language socialization in the family, but also similar challenges. The place of residence did indeed play an important role, as home language instruction was rarely offered, and contact with other German-speaking or multilingual families was often very limited. Some children therefore attend German-as-a-foreign-language classes at school, which was perceived as a challenge by some of the interviewees. Nevertheless, inclusive solutions could help multilingual children, even in rural regions, maintain and develop their home language. Full article

In the context of a European Union-funded project, a mentorship programme was developed and implemented in a Portuguese school serving as the initial destination for newly arrived migrant children. This initiative arose from a gap in interventions aimed at promoting integration and inclusion of migrant children in this educational context. The programme was designed, following the participatory action research and co-creation approaches, guided by three primary objectives: amplifying the voices of migrant children and youth, empowering their agency and active citizenship, and facilitating their integration in the school. Recognising that integration is a two-way process, the programme engaged established students as mentors and peers of newly arrived migrant children. Over an academic year, collaborative activities were created and implemented in the school in partnership with participating students. These activities aimed to promote integration, foster a pro-diversity environment, and ensure sustainability. The programme’s evaluation included a questionnaire and a focus group involving participating children and teachers responsible for the activities. Findings highlighted the cultivation of values like tolerance, respect, and empathy, with effects extending beyond the school. Moreover, results revealed heightened teacher awareness of the unique needs of migrant children and the importance of incorporating their voices into school activities. Full article

Background: Being breastfed, following a healthy diet and staying active during childhood shape health trajectories across the life course, promoting long-term well-being. Despite the growing immigrant child population in Portugal, evidence on these behaviours, particularly among preschool-aged children, remains limited. In this context, this study examines the associations between migrant status and breastfeeding patterns, fruit and vegetable consumption, and participation in sports among children living in the Lisbon Metropolitan Area. Methods: A cross-sectional study nested within a cross-sequential cohort was carried out in the Lisbon region between May 2022 and April 2024. Approximately 760 children (49.4% immigrants) born in 2018 and 2020 were enrolled in the study. Data were collected through a face-to-face interview with parents, using a structured questionnaire with information on socioeconomic variables, migration history, breastfeeding habits, and children’s diet (fruit and vegetable consumption) and physical activity. We used parametric and non-parametric tests to compare migrant and non-migrant children. To quantify factors associated with the main outcomes, we estimated a logistic regression model and calculated crude and adjusted odds ratios and their respective 95%CI. Results: Immigrant children were disproportionately represented in socioeconomically disadvantaged families. Breastfeeding initiation rates were higher among immigrant mothers (96.3% vs. 87.6%, p < 0.001). Additionally, immigrant mothers had a longer median duration of any breastfeeding (14 vs. 8 months, p < 0.001) and of exclusive breastfeeding (6 vs. 4 months, p < 0.001). Immigrant children had significantly lower odds of consuming three or more portions of fruit (aOR = 0.700; 95%CI: 0.511–0.959; p = 0.027) and two or more portions of vegetables per day (aOR = 0.489; 95%CI: 0.350–0.684; p < 0.001) compared with non-immigrant children. They were also twice as likely to not engage in sports (aOR = 2.185; 95%CI: 1.512–3.158; p < 0.001). Conclusions: Breastfeeding was better implemented in immigrant children. The findings highlight the need to address social determinants of health and the challenges faced by immigrant families in promoting a balanced diet and sports participation for their children. Multisectoral, culturally appropriate interventions that sustain and promote good breastfeeding practices, improve access to healthy food, and encourage sports are crucial to reducing health inequalities. Full article

Background/Objectives: As zero-dose vaccination has become a global health concern, understanding the practice of self-paid immunizations in migrant and left-behind children in China is crucial to the prevention and control of infectious diseases. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 1648 children and their caregivers in urban areas in Zhejiang Province and rural areas in Henan Province. The participants were then classified into four groups: urban local, migrant, non-left-behind, and left-behind. Results: Compared to urban local children, migrant (prevalence ratios: 1.29, 95% confidence intervals: 0.69–2.41), non-left-behind (4.72, 3.02–7.37), and left-behind (4.79, 3.03–7.56) children were more likely to be zero-dose vaccinated. Children aged 1–2 years (odds ratio: 1.60, 95% confidence intervals: 1.14–2.23) and born later (1.55, 1.12–2.14), with caregivers aged >35 years (1.49, 1.03–2.15) and less educated (elementary school or lower: 4.22, 2.39–7.45) were less likely to receive self-paid vaccinations, while caregivers other than parents (0.62, 0.41–0.94) and lower household income (0.67, 0.49–0.90) lowered the likelihood of zero-dose vaccination of self-paid vaccines. For migrant and rural zero-dose children, the majority of caregivers reported they “didn’t know where to get a vaccination”, with responses ranging from 82.3% to 93.8%. Conclusions: Migrant and rural children should be prioritized in the promotion of self-paid immunization in order to accomplish the WHO Immunization Agenda 2030’s goal of “leaving no one behind”. Full article

Cultural and religious diversity in Spain, driven by recent decades of migratory flows, has not been exempt from generating social tensions and, unfortunately, an increasing stigmatization of migrant children. This article examines how power dynamics and exclusion impact the identity construction of these young people, particularly within the child protection system. Through interviews and focus groups with young people and professionals in Barcelona and Melilla, this study highlights the resistance strategies these young individuals employ to counteract stigmatizing narratives. The findings indicate that, despite inclusion policies, imposed labels reinforce their vulnerability and limit their social and community participation. Although interfaith dialogue is proposed as a tool to mitigate these tensions, professionals working with these children emphasize the lack of institutional support and insufficient training in socio-cultural diversity, which hinders their efforts. The study underscores the importance of developing interfaith competencies that foster mutual respect and recognition, concluding with a critique of the current protection system. It advocates for a comprehensive approach to addressing these young people’s emotional, social, and spiritual needs beyond solely legal and educational aspects. Full article