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Report on early childhood development practices in China from a global health perspective

Chinese Journal of Child Health Care.2024;32(1):1-6. doi:10.11852/zgetbjzz2023-1344

As the health disparities among children indirectly reflect the unfair distribution of national child healthcare, education, and other infrastructure, early childhood health development is a globally significant public health concern. On a global scale, 193 countries have endorsed The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and have explored various development strategies. The government placing children′s interests and their rights at the core of their efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs) is essential, China has made substantial progress in improving children′s well-being over several decades of continuous effort and practice. However, challenges persist, including regional development imbalances, insufficient service capabilities in impoverished rural areas, and emerging issues like obesity, myopia, and mental health problems. China still needs to meet the growing health needs of children fully. From a global health perspective, this article systematically reviews the current status of global early childhood health development, outlines the significant milestones and best practices in China′s early childhood development efforts, and also anticipates the focus and challenges in early childhood development in China based on global trends, hoping to contribute to further research in this field.

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Association of sexual development characteristics and phases with the cognitive and behavioral development of adolescents aged 10 to 14 in rural areas of Shaanxi Province

Liang WANG ; Yingze ZHU ; Qi QI ; Zhonghai ZHU ; Lingxia ZENG

Chinese Journal of Child Health Care.2024;32(1):10-15. doi:10.11852/zgetbjzz2023-0201

【Objective】 To analyze the association of sexual development characteristics and phases with the cognitive and behavioral development of adolescents aged 10 to 14 in rural areas of Shaanxi Province, in order to provide scientific reference for enhancing adolescent health. 【Methods】 The study population was selected from a birth cohort study′s follow-up data for the adolescent phase. The Tanner quintile method was used to assess sexual development, the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, Fourth Edition (WISC-Ⅳ) was used to assess cognitive development, and the Youth Self-Rating Scale(YSR-2001) was used to assess behavioral development. Generalized linear models was used to examine the association of the stages of adolescent sexual development with their cognitive and behavioral development. 【Results】 A total of 1 887 adolescents were enrolled in this study, with 1 111 (58.9%) boys. The proportion of boys and girls who have started sexual development was 78.22% and 89.30%, respectively. The detection rate of behavioral problems in adolescents was 9.70%, with 11.80% in boys and 6.70% in girls, and the gender difference was significant (χ²=13.517, P<0.001). Compared to adolescents in Tanner stage Ⅰ, adolescents in stage Ⅲ had a higher total cognitive score of 2.19 (95%CI: 0.15 - 4.23), and a higher total score of 3.84 (95%CI: 0.85 - 6.83,P<0.05) in stages Ⅳ-Ⅴ. The detection rate of total behavioral problems of children in Tanner stages Ⅳ-Ⅴ was 2.63 times (95%CI:1.27 - 5.46,P<0.05) higher than that in stage Ⅰ. In boys, the rate of detection of internalizing problems was 3.96 times(95%CI:1.60 - 9.81,P<0.01) higher than that in stage Ⅰ, and the detection rate of internalizing problems was 2.88 times(95%CI:1.19 - 7.01,P<0.05) higher than that in stage Ⅰ. 【Conclusions】 There is a significant correlation of sexual developmental phrase with cognitive and behavioral development among adolescents aged 10 - 14 years in rural Shaanxi Province. The detection rate of adolescent behavioral problems increases with the increase of sexual development level and cognitive level, and there are significant gender differences.

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Effect of polygenic risk score in the sustainability of childhood obesity intervention

Jing CHEN ; Rui SHAN ; Wucai XIAO ; Jieyun SONG ; Zheng LIU

Chinese Journal of Child Health Care.2024;32(1):16-20. doi:10.11852/zgetbjzz2023-0027

【Objective】 To explore the relationship between polygenic risk score (PRS) and the sustainability of childhood obesity intervention, in order to provide scientific basis for future sustainable and personalized childhood obesity intervention based on genetic background. 【Methods】 A total of 148 children with overweight/obesity at baseline were selected as study subjects from a cluster randomized controlled trial (September 2018 to April 2021) regarding the effect of a childhood obesity intervention in Beijing, China. Saliva was collected to detect the whole genome sequencing. Four PRSs were built: weighted and unweighted PRS69, weighted and unweighted PRS67. The interactions between PRS and study arms on the sustainability of intervention effect (the changes in obesity-related indicators between the end of the intervention and the last follow-up) were analyzed. 【Results】 There were interactions between PRS and study arms on the rebound degree of waist circumference adjusted for body mass index (BMI), waist-to-hip ratio adjusted for BMI, and systolic blood pressure after the intervention. Compared with the control group, children in the intervention group carried each additional unit (standard deviation) of weighted PRS69, the waist circumference adjusted for BMI rebounded more by 0.34 (95%CI: 0.05 - 0.63, P=0.020), and waist-to-hip ratio adjusted for BMI rebounded more by 0.29 (95%CI: 0.03 - 0.56, P=0.031) at the last follow-up survey. When children in the intervention group carried each additional unit (standard deviation) of weighted PRS67 and unweighted PRS67, systolic blood pressure at the last follow-up survey rebounded more by 3.58 (95%CI:0.50 - 6.66, P=0.023) and 3.75 (95%CI: 0.78 - 6.71, P=0.014), respectively. 【Conclusions】 The higher PRS (the more risk alleles) children with overweight/obesity carried, their waist circumference, waist-to-hip ratio and systolic blood pressure are more likely to rebound after the intervention. Findings from this study suggest that future studies should focus more on these high-risk children after the intervention to prevent and control obesity rebound.

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Status quo of preterm infants′ feeding difficulties at weaning and self-feeding transition stage and its influencing factors

Die CHEN ; Wentao PENG ; Mengyan TANG ; Xiaomei LIU

Chinese Journal of Child Health Care.2024;32(1):21-25. doi:10.11852/zgetbjzz2023-0329

【Objective】 To investigate the prevalence and influencing factors of feeding difficulties in preterm infants at weaning and self-feeding transition stage, so as to provide a scientific basis for the management of feeding preterm infants. 【Methods】 Preterm infants at corrected age of 6 - 24 months were recruited from the Department of Child Health of five maternal and child health hospital of Chengdu from April to May 2021, and were surveyed by using the Chinese Version of the Montreal Children Hospital Feeding Scale (MCF-FS) and the self-designed questionnaire on the influencing factors of feeding difficulties. Then the status quo of feeding difficulties and its influencing factors were analyzed. 【Results】 The prevalence rate of feeding difficulties in 231 preterm infants was 32%. Among them, the prevalence rate of mild, moderate and severe feeding difficulties was 15.2%, 7.8% and 9.1%, respectively. Binary Logistic stepwise regression analysis indicated that food allergy (OR=4.253, 95%CI: 1.430 - 12.649), anxious mood of caregivers (OR=6.064, 95%CI: 2.998 - 12.268), tease or chase during eating(OR=2.873, 95%CI: 1.382 - 5.970), recreational activities at eating (OR=2.328, 95%CI: 1.115 - 4.860), and forced feeding (OR=2.772, 95%CI: 1.239 - 6.198) were positively associated with feeding difficulty of preterm infants(P<0.05). 【Conclusion】 Feeding difficulties in the weaning and self-feeding transition period of preterm infants are prevalent, so the guidance should focus on premature infants with food allergy, anxious caregivers and improper feeding behaviors, and appropriate interventions should be taken to promote scientific feeding.

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Status quo of screen exposure and its determinants in 3- to 6-year-old children in Minhang district, Shanghai

Min CHEN ; Hongmei ZHANG ; Shurong KANG ; Yun LI

Chinese Journal of Child Health Care.2024;32(1):26-30. doi:10.11852/zgetbjzz2023-0004

【Objective】 To investigate the screen exposure status in 3- to 6-year-old children in Minhang district and to analyze its determinants, so as to provide a basis for scientific intervention of screen exposure in children. 【Methods】 A total of 1 035 children aged 3 to 6 years were selected from 30 classes in 10 kindergartens in Minhang district by multi-stage cluster sampling in October 2022. An online questionnaire survey was conducted by their parents. Screen exposure was difined as spending more than one hour on video products per day. Multivariate Logistic regression model was adopted to analyze the determinants of children screen exposure. 【Results】 Among 1 035 children, 730 experienced screen exposure (70.53%). The average time of daily screen exposure was (1.67±0.98)h. The daily screen exposure time of children aged 3, 4, 5 and 6 years at weekends was (1.77±1.13), (1.76±1.04), (1.98±1.10)h and(2.08±1.22)h, respectively, and the difference was statistically significant (F=3.98, P<0.01). Multivariate Logistic analysis showed that age group of 5 years old (OR=1.79, 95%CI:1.19 - 2.68), the caregivers using video products for 1 - 2hours/day (OR=2.61, 95%CI:1.90 - 3.60) and >2hours/day (OR=2.10, 95%CI:1.35 - 3.27) when accompanying children, parents supporting children using video products(OR=1.59, 95%CI:1.17 - 2.15), children using video products before bedtime(OR=1.94, 95%CI:1.32 - 2.86), and unsupervised use of video products for children(OR=1.94, 95%CI:1.36 - 2.77) were independent risk factors for children′s screen exposure(P<0.05). Father′s education level of bachelor(OR=0.61,95%CI:0.43 - 0.89), master and above(OR=0.49, 95%CI:0.34 - 0.73) was a protective factor for children′s screen exposure(P<0.05). 【Conclusions】 Attention should be paid to the problem of screen exposure of 3 -to 6 - year-old children. Targeted efforts should be made to popularize the knowledge of the harm of early screen exposure to children among caregivers, caregivers are advocated for the rule formulation of screen behavior, scientifically regulate children′s screen exposure behaviors, and increase parent-child communication, so as to reduce the adverse effects of screen exposure on children′s health.

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Cross-sectional study on the association between gut microbiota composition and blood pressure in children

Guoqing FANG ; Xin ZHANG ; Dayong ZHA ; Shanshan CHEN ; Zhen HONG ; Zheqing ZHANG

Chinese Journal of Child Health Care.2024;32(1):31-38. doi:10.11852/zgetbjzz2023-0047

【Objective】 To analyze the association between the composition of gut microbiota and blood pressure in children aged 6 - 9 years, in order to provide new ideas for childhood hypertension prevention and treatment. 【Methods】 A total of 411 children aged 6 - 9 years were recruited in Guangzhou from December 2015 to March 2017. The gut microbiota was characterized by 16S ribosomal RNA amplicon sequencing. The multivariate methods with unbiased variable selection in R (MUVR) were performed to identify the significant OTUs. Spearman correlation as well as multiple linear regression were used to explore the relationship between gut microbiota and blood pressure in children. 【Results】 Significant difference in β diversity index was observed between children with normal blood pressure and those with abnormal blood pressure (R²weighted=0.015,Pweighted=0.01; R²unweighted=0.027, Punweighted=0.001). After adjustment for covariates and controlling the false discovery rate (FDR), multiple linear regression analysis showed that blood pressure level in children decreased with the increasing abundance of OTU_3 (genus Blautia), OTU_131 (genus [Clostridium]_innocuum_group), OTU_1776 (genus Blautia), OTU_2159 (genus Prevotella) and OTU_91 (species Bifidobacterium_breve) (β:-0.18 --0.14; PFDR<0.05. In contrast, blood pressure in children increased with the increasing abundance of OTU_108(genus Sutterella), OTU_1(species Faecalibacterium_prausnitzii)、OTU_8(genus Roseburia), OTU_48 (genus Lachnoclostridium), OTU_81 (genus Coprococcus), OTU_401 (family Lachnospiraceae), OTU_1284 (family Lachnospiraceae) and OTU_2793 (family Lachnospiraceae)(β: 0.14 - 0.21; PFDR<0.05. The influence of gut microbiota on systolic pressure and diastolic pressure may be mediated by the increase of body mass index (BMI). 【Conclusions】 Pediatric blood pressure level is associated with the composition of gut microbiota, while BMI partially plays a mediating role in the relationship. It is recommended to modulate the abundance of microbiota as genus Blautia, Sutterella and so on to prevent hypertension in children.

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Correlation of serum 25-(OH)D3, albumin, ferritin with STAMP score and their predictive value for clinical outcome of preschool children with malnutrition

Jie SONG ; Linjuan HUANG ; Bidan GUO

Chinese Journal of Child Health Care.2024;32(1):39-44. doi:10.11852/zgetbjzz2023-0193

【Objective】 To investigate the correlation of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 [25-(OH)D3], albumin (ALB) and ferritin (SF) with Screening Tool for the Assessment of Malnutrition in Pediatrics (STAMP) score in preschool children with malnutrition, and to analyze the predictive value of these factors on clinical outcomes, so as to provide reference for improving clinical outcomes. 【Methods】 Totally 90 preschoolers with malnutrition in Fuzhou Children′s Hospital from August 2021 to August 2022 were selected as the observation group, and 60 healthy preschool children during the same period were selected as the control group. Nutritional guidance was provided to the preschoolers for a consecutive 3-month period, followed by monitoring and recording the incidence of malnutrition and iron deficiency anemia within 3 months after treatment. 【Results】 The levels of serum 25-(OH)D3, ALB and SF were lower in the observation group compared to the control group, while the STAMP score was higher in the observation group (t=9.700, 6.047, 4.771, 26.976, P<0.05). The levels of serum 25-(OH)D3, ALB and SF in preschool children with malnutrition showed a negative correlation with the STAMP score (r=-0.813, -0.792, -0.829, P < 0.05). After 3 months of treatment, the levels of serum 25-(OH)D3, ALB and SF, as well as the difference between pre- and post-treatment levels, were lower in children with adverse clinical outcomes compared to those with good clinical outcomes (t=3.622, 2.189, 2.163, 8.704, 4.354, 5.296, P< 0.05). When the difference in serum 25-(OH)D3, ALB and SF before and after treatment was small, preschool children with malnutrition had a higher risk of adverse clinical outcomes [25-(OH)D3:OR=7.250, 95%CI: 3.008 - 17.476; ALB: OR=9.167, 95%CI: 2.954 - 28.444; SF: OR=5.730, 95%CI: 2.364 - 13.890]. The combined predictive value of serum 25-(OH)D3, ALB and SF before and after treatment had an AUC value of 0.927, higher than that of any single index. The decision curve analysis (DCA) showed that the combined prediction scheme of these factors had a clinical net benefit in predicting the clinical outcome of preschool children with malnutrition. 【Conclusions】 Low serum levels of 25-(OH)D3, ALB and SF are indicative of a higher risk of adverse clinical outcomes. Utilizing the combined prediction of these factors before and after treatment shows high accuracy in predicting clinical outcomes.

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Obesity status of Kazakh children and adolescents in Xinjiang agricultural and pastoral areas and its correlation with lifestyle

Jingzhi LIU ; Qinxiu LI ; Yanyan HU ; ·Mamat AINUER

Chinese Journal of Child Health Care.2024;32(1):45-48. doi:10.11852/zgetbjzz2023-0368

【Objective】 To understand the obesity status of Kazakh children and adolescents in the agricultural and pastoral areas of Xinjiang and its association with lifestyle, so as to provide reference and help for maintaining good body shape and health intervention for Kazakh children and adolescents in agricultural and pastoral areas. 【Methods】 From April to June 2022, 6 242 Kazakh children and adolescents aged 10 - 20 years were tested for obesity and surveyed by lifestyle questionnaires using stratified whole-group sampling in the farming and herding areas of Yili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture and Altay Region, Xinjiang. χ² test and Logistic regression analysis were used to analyze data. 【Results】 The obesity detection rate of Kazakh children and adolescents in Xinjiang farming and herding areas was 18.71%, with higher rates in boys (22.24%) compared to girls (15.12%), and the difference was statistically significant (χ² =52.04, P<0.01). Significant differences were observed in the obesity rates based on grade level, fruit consumption frequency, screen time of television, feeling hopeful for the future, fatigue, loneliness, and sadness (χ² =24.29, 4.61, 694.51, 7.15, 10.33, 6.51, 8.07, P<0.01). Logistic regression analysis showed that female students (OR=0.63, 95%CI: 0.56 - 0.69) and students who felt hopeful about the future (OR=0.96, 95%CI: 0.94 - 0.99) were protective factors against obesity (P<0.05); while high school and lower grades (senior high school OR=1.38, 95%CI: 1.24 - 1.57; junior high school OR=1.82, 95%CI: 1.58 - 2.06; primary school OR=2.67, 95%CI: 2.33 - 2.99), fruit consumption ≥1time/d (OR=1.07, 95%CI: 1.03 - 1.16), watching TV ≥2h/d (OR=1.07, 95%CI: 1.02 - 1.17), frequent feeling of fatigue (OR=1.07, 95%CI: 1.03 - 1.12), loneliness (OR=1.08, 95%CI: 1.02~1.19) and sadness (OR= 1.09, 95%CI: 1.04 - 1.14) of students were risk factors for the development of obesity (P<0.05). 【Conclusions】 The obesity rate of Kazakh children and adolescents in the agricultural and pastoral areas of Xinjiang is high and closely associated with lifestyle. Therefore, it is crucial to improve unhealthy lifestyles in order to reduce obesity and promote the physical and mental well-being of this population.

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Research advance in the changes of bone mineral density during puberty

Ke CHENG ; Li LAN

Chinese Journal of Child Health Care.2024;32(1):49-53. doi:10.11852/zgetbjzz2023-0084

Bone mineral density is an important indicator of bone nutrition. The bone mineral density of children gradually increases with age, and the accumulation of bone mineral density in adolescence increases significantly, which is the most sensitive period to affect the peak bone mass. Sex hormone promotes bone formation and bone mineral density acquisition, and the peak secretion of growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor-1 increases bone mineral density accumulation. Children with precocious puberty develop earlier, and the length of puberty is shortened, resulting in changes in bone mass accumulation. GnRHa(gonadotrophin releasing hormone analogue) treatment of precocious puberty also affects bone metabolism. The level of 25-(OH)D3 in children varies with age in a U-shaped curve, which is the lowest in adolescence. Changes in body composition such as bone mass in adolescence have a long-term impact on bone health and even adult physique.

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Research progress in the correlation between maternal depression and childhood obesity

Hongju ZHOU ; Ji GUAN ; Jing LUO ; Xuemei JU ; Jiaxin YU

Chinese Journal of Child Health Care.2024;32(1):54-58. doi:10.11852/zgetbjzz2023-0207

Maternal depression can cause physical and mental harm to herself. This condition can lead to poor physical development in early offspring (newborns). However, the effect of maternal depression on the long-term physical development of offspring remains controversial. Studies have shown that offspring exposed to maternal depression in developed countries are at an increased risk of obesity. In view of the high incidence of maternal depression and childhood obesity in China, this article reviews the correlation between maternal depression and offspring obesity, aiming to provide insights for relevant research in China and offer references for the prevention and intervention of maternal depression and childhood obesity.

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