BACKGROUND: Filipino society's normative definition of a 'family' is one that is composed of a married heterosexual couple and their children. In such cultural set-up, both the mothers and fathers are expected to share the responsibility in raising their child or children. However, for solo mother households, this scenario is farfetched with solo mothers serving as the primary economic provider and caregiver.

OBJECTIVES: The study aimed to chart the challenges faced by solo mothers and identify the coping strategies they employed through understanding their lived experiences.

METHODOLOGY: The study used a phenomenological approach to magnify a better understanding of the phenomenon as experienced by solo mothers. The researcher conducted personal in-depth interviews with thirteen (13) solo mothers from the city of Manila. The inclusion criteria for the participants were: (a) solo mothers who raised their child alone, (b) at least 25 years of age, and (c) has at least one biological child who is 20 years old and below. The participants were recruited through purposive and snowball sampling. The interviews were carefully recorded, transcribed and critically analyzed. After careful thematic analysis of the data and with quantitative methods used, seven themes answering the study's objectives emerged.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: The seven major themes recorded were: Absence of A Partner, Conflicting Responsibilities, Child Care, Social Support, Willing Endurance, Spiritual Guidance, and Self-Care. These themes were gathered from the respondents who on the averaged have been solo mothers for 10 years already. Solo mothers used both problem-focused and emotion-focused coping strategies, but the nature of the problem dictates the strategy to be employed. Solo mothers make sure to look after themselves to be able to take care of their children in the future. Given the reality of struggles of solo parenting, solo mothers as a sector must be provided with support programs and policies by the government to strengthen their stand on raising their children well.

PURPOSE: This study aims to understand baby care helpers' degree of emotional labor, job stress, and burnout and analyze the effects of emotional labor and job stress on their burnout. METHODS: Data were collected from August 16 to September 6, 2016 for three weeks with child care helpers working in C city, D city, and S city as subjects. Multiple regression analysis was used in order to examine the factors influencing the subjects' burnout. RESULTS: Burnout in general characteristics differed significantly according to age (F=4.81, p=.011). As the most influential factors for burnout, emotional labor (β=.43) had statistically significant correlation with it, along with job stress (β=.16) and age (β=.14). These variables explained burnout (Adj.R²=0.29, p<.001) at a rate of 29%. CONCLUSION: It is judged that strategies and continuous management aimed at reducing child care helpers' emotional labor and job stress are necessary. As an approach from different aspects, it is required that variables related to emotional labor, job stress, and burnout are identified and there would be more researches in order to establish some national policies for child care helpers.
Child ; Child Care* ; Child* ; Humans

The month age is a very important index in the health care for children. There are many factors affect to the information of children’s birthday. A common main factor is the confusion of lunar with solar calendar. The data of birth date collected from 547 children in Thanh Hãa province showed that a significant number of children have the birth date that were recorded by lunar calendar, result in errors in determining their age of month. The authors have proposed computer software that could change automatically the lunar day to the solar day.
Child ; Delivery of Health Care

Background: The strategy of Integrated Management of Childhood Illness (IMCI) was developed as an approach/tool for reducing the childhood mortality in developing countries. IMCI was approved by the Ministry of Health of Viet Nam and has been implemented in more than 3500 communal health centers nationwide. Aims: 1) To discover the quality of health care services for children under-5 and the situation of IMCI in health facilities. 2) To propose solutions to improve the quality of health care services for children. Materials and method: The cross-sectional study using quantitative and qualitative approaches conducted 58 direct observations in health workers, interviewed 58 caretakers, comprehensively interviewed 20 local leaders and technical staffs, facilitated 12 focal group discussions and reviewed 120 records of 12 commune health centers. Results: IMCI was considered by all of the participants as a comprehensive approach to improving the quality of childhood health care at first-level health facilities. IMCI contributed towards improved case management skills of health workers, improved the supply of essential drugs and supplies for child health care. As a result, the quality of health services for children under-5 has been promoted (93% of illness children were correctly assessed and classified, 84.6% of them were correctly treated and counseled). Health workers in Ly Nhan district, Ha Nam province adhered to 8.4+/-1.5 out of 10 essential steps of comprehensive child health care. Contrarily, this indicator was low in the districts of Bac Giang province (4.8+/-1.5), not much different to untrained IMCI health workers. Conclusion: IMCI is a useful strategy to improving the quality of child health care. But there were some difficulties that affected the implementation of this strategy in first-level health facilities.
IMCI ; Child health care

A study on 2 pilot communes of Hoa Lu district, Ninh Binh province showed that: the morbidity rate was 13,9% among children under 5 years old within 2 weeks while this rate among children over 5 years old was only 3%. Among children suffering the disease, the children with acute respiratory tract infection was 83,3%; diarrhea 7,5%, rate of lack of toilets with proper hygiene was 62% of households. 9% children with disease had treated at communal health stations, while 48% of them received private health services. The health education and communication was still limited.
Child ; Delivery of Health Care

The finding revealed that the majority of the mothers had a high and moderate level of knowledge and attitude towards dental health. Around two-thirds of the mothers had good dental health preventive behavior (62.7%). Among them 71.3% of the mothers brushed their children's teeth two to three times a day, and 76.0% cleaned their children's teeth after meals. Most of the mothers used fluoride toothpaste to brush their children's teeth (86.0%). However, misconceptions still existed. More than two-thirds of the mothers didn't know the advantage of pit and fissure sealant; the appropriate time to brush their children's teeth, and the effect of Tetracycline on their child's teeth. Only 32.7% of the mothers brought their child to see the dentist for check-up and 15.3% did so at an appropriate time which was every six months. Television was the most frequent source of information about dental health that the respondents were exposed to (89.3%). The result of the study showed a significant association between knowledge of dental health and dental health preventive behavior (P = 0.031) and the level of mother's education and dental health preventative behavior (P = 0.033).
Dental Care ; child ; Mothers

The study is a survey on oro-dental diseases in 1132 children who were over 6 years old and living in the North Central Coastal and South Central Coastal areas. The subjects were divided into 4 age groups: 6-8, 9-11, 12-14 and 15-17. Results: The percentage of children 6-8 years old with caries in the primary dentition was high, from 83.7% to 91.6%. The percentage of children who had caries in the permanent dentition increased across the age groups. The percentage of children who had not caries was much more lower than WHO’s standard. In all age groups, the percentage of children in the South Central Coast who had dental caries was higher than children in the North Central Coast. The percentage of children 6-14 years old with gingivitis in the South Central Coast was higher than in the North Central Coast
Child ; Delivery of Health Care

To get a better dental care in children, the dentist needs to approach with the dentist who treats for them. This responsibility is belonging to both society and the dentist. A child’s parent knows how to persuade her/his to see the dentist, don’t let them terrify. The parents also should spend more time for their children to help the dentist can give them the better dental care. The dentist must learn more about the children’ psychology and understand their behaviour. Each child has own character and behaviours and they effect from different environment so it is necessary to have the combination of the dentist and other health workers in the dentist’s clinic for a better dental care in children
Dental Care ; Child

The Cordillera is home to indigenous pregnancy and childcare practices. This study describes the Ibaloy traditional health practices of which little are known. It seeks to contribute to the literature about indigenous pregnancy and childcare practices. This two-year ethnographic study was conducted in Mangagew, Poblacion, Bokod, Benguet. Data was gathered through field observations and interviews with mothers, elders, and traditional birth attendants. The findings showed that Ibaloys are strongly connected to their traditional beliefs and possess strong family and community support for pregnant women and their children. Most of the traditional beliefs and practices of caring are still observed, alongside modern healthcare principles and practices. There are myriad of factors that influence Ibaloy health care decisions apart from their traditional beliefs and practices. Achieving health for these vulnerable groups requires multi-sectoral linkages and active community participation. The result of this research serves as a basis for culturally appropriate evidence-based care for both the Ibaloys and similar groups, and as reference for the Ibaloys’ slowly fading traditional beliefs and practices
Female ; Pregnancy ; Child Care ; Child Health ; Delivery of Health Care

School gardens are known to be effective for increasing vegetable consumption in children. This study was carried out to examine the perception of garden program leaders for actual conditions and barriers to promote school gardens according to their sense of dedication. The 49 garden program leaders at schools and child care centers in Pocheon city were surveyed and grouped into two groups: dedicated (57.1%) and less dedicated (42.9%) as program leaders. Compared to dedicated leaders, leaders in the less dedicated group less advocated promotion of school gardens (P<0.001) and were less willing to attend training for school garden (P<0.01), despite less experience as program leaders (P<0.01) and past training (P<0.05). Moreover, leaders in the less dedicated group less acknowledged the educational results of school garden in every aspect (P<0.001, respectively), less perceived support from parents and colleagues (P<0.05, respectively), and less used garden produce in more active activities such as donation and literature (P<0.05, respectively), compared to the dedicated group. The most answered barrier against the promotion of school gardens was work burden, followed by manpower shortage, shortage of technique, knowledge, and information, and time shortage. The results of this study provide evidence that developing strategies is needed to make more teachers and child care providers more dedicated as garden program leaders.
Agriculture* ; Child ; Child Care ; Humans ; Parents ; Vegetables