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The article discusses research which investigated effectiveness of a school-based education programme in reducing salt intake of children and their families. Topics explored include the measurement of salt intake through urinary sodium excretion measurement, the salt reduction message relayed to children and their families, and the salt intake changes recorded in both intervention and control groups studied.

The article discusses an Australian study which found that intervention families reported a greater decline in severity of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms and fewer moderate-severe sleep problems at three months and six months compared with the control families. It cites the involvement of 244 children aged 5-12 years with ADHD in the study. It also mentions the participation of parents and teachers in reporting the severity of ADHD symptoms.

Background Tobacco smoke pollution (TSP) has major negative effects on infant health. Our objectives were to determine the effectiveness of a brief primary care intervention directed at parents who smoke in reducing babies’ TSP exposure, and to establish variables related to greater exposure. Method A multicentre, open, cluster-randomised clinical trial in Catalonia. The 83 participating primary health paediatric teams of the Catalan Health Service recruited 1101 babies whose parents were smokers. The intervention group (IG) received a brief TSP intervention; the control group (CG) received the usual care. Outcomes were measured by parents’ reported strategies to avoid TSP exposure. Baseline clinical data and characteristics of each baby’s TSP exposure were collected, along with infant hair samples and parents’ tobacco use and related attitudes/behaviours. At 3-month and 6-month follow-up, behavioural changes to avoid TSP exposure were recorded; the association between reported parental behaviours and nicotine concentration in infant hair samples was tested in a random sample of 253 babies at baseline and 6 months. Results During follow-up, TSP-avoidance strategies improved more in the IG than in the CG: 35.4% and 26.9% ( p=0.006) at home, and 62.2% and 53.1% in cars (p=0.008). Logistic regression showed adjusted ORs for appropriate measures in the IG versus CG of 1.59 (95% CI 1.21 to 2.09) at home and 1.30 (95% CI 0.97 to 1.75) in cars. Hair samples showed that 78.7% of the babies tested were exposed. Reduced nicotine concentration was associated with improved implementation of effective strategies reported by parents at home (p=0.029) and in cars (p=0.014). Conclusions The intervention produced behavioural changes to avoid TSP exposure in babies. The proportion of babies with nicotine (>=1ng/mg) in hair samples at baseline is a concern. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses research on the impact of the Integrated Management of Neonatal and Childhood Illness (IMNCI) program's implementation on treatment seeking practices for infant morbidities in Haryana, India. Topics covered include health workers' training in case management of childhood diseases, home visits for newborn care, and hospital admissions.

The article focuses on a study which assessed the effectiveness of Active for Life Year 5 (AFLY5), a school based intervention to increase physical activity, reduce sedentary behavior and increase fruit and vegetable consumption in children. Topics covered include the design of the randomized clinical trial, the participants and setting of the trial and the primary outcomes of the study. Offered as well are the bias, confounding and other reasons for caution for future studies.

The article summarizes a randomized controlled trial which investigated the effectiveness of helmet therapy in infants with positional skull deformation compared with the natural course of the condition. The observed primary outcome and results of the study cover the score for both plagiocephaly and brachycephaly, and the rate of patient recovery in the helmet therapy group compared to the natural course group.

The article describes the case study for determining if probiotic Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 reduce crying or fussing in infants aged less than 3 months with colic. The case study performed a double blind, placebo controlled randomised trial of Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938, wherein randomisation was stratified by using block randomisation and computer generated allocation. It is determined that Lactobacillus reuteri treatment did not reduce crying of fussing in infants with colic.

Background: Unintentional injury is the leading cause of preventable death in children in the UK, and 0-4- year-olds frequently attend emergency departments following injuries in the home. Parenting programmes designed to support parents, promote behaviour change and enhance parent-child relationships have been shown to improve health outcomes in children. It is not known whether group-based parenting programmes have the potential to prevent unintentional injuries in preschool children. Methods: A study to develop a group-based parenting programme to prevent unintentional home injuries in preschool children, and assess the feasibility of evaluation through a cluster-randomised controlled trial. The intervention, designed for parents of children who have sustained a medically attended injury, will be developed with two voluntary sector organisations. The feasibility study will assess ability to recruit parents, deliver the programme and follow-up participants. Participants will complete questionnaires at baseline, 3 months and 6 months, and report injuries in their preschool children using a tool designed and validated for this study. Qualitative methods will assess user and deliverer perceptions of the programme. Discussion: This study will develop the first group-based parenting programme to prevent injuries in preschool children, and design tools for parent-reported injury outcomes. A key challenge will be to recruit parents to participate in a manner that is nonstigmatising, and does not result in feelings of guilt or belief that they are perceived to be a bad parent. The findings will be used to prepare a trial to assess the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of the intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers information on a study of obesity management in younger children. It informs that a randomized control trial on body mass index (BMI) surveillance in 22 general practices in Mel­bourne, Australia on 1195 children aged 3-10 years over a 10 month period were carried out. It informs that the outcome had similar BMI and BMI z-scores.

STUDY QUESTION: Does dietary n-3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acid (LCPUFA) supplementation of pregnant women with a fetus at high risk of allergic disease reduce immunoglobulin E associated eczema or food allergy at 1 year of age? SUMMARY ANSWER: n-3 LCPUFA supplementation in pregnancy did not reduce the overall incidence of immunoglobulin E associated allergies in the first year of life, although immunoglobulin E associated eczema was lower. WHAT IS KNOWN AND WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS: Several mechanistic studies have suggested that higher intakes of n-3 LCPUFA during pregnancy modulate the neonatal immune response towards a less allergenic phenotype. n-3 LCPUFA supplementation in pregnancy did not reduce the incidence of immunoglobulin E associated food allergies in the first year of life, but the incidence of atopic eczema was lower. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The benefits of correctly using size-appropriate restraints for children travelling in cars are well established, and considerable research has focused on the determinants of appropriate restraint choice. There are few studies of the factors associated with incorrect use. Objective To determine predictors of incorrect restraint use by child occupants and how these differ from inappropriate use. Methods A stratified multistage cluster sample of child occupants aged 0-10 years in New South Wales, Australia was used. Observation of restraint type and inspection of correctness of use was performed on arrival at schools, childcare centres, and child health clinics. An interview was conducted with the driver. Logistic regression was performed to estimate the effects of parental, family, and other characteristics on the likelihood of moderate or serious incorrect restraint use for restraint classes (rear/forward facing, booster, and seatbelt). Results Significant factors varied depending on age and restraint class. Older child restraint users (OR per year of age 0.27, 95% CI 0.07 to 0.98) and seatbelt users (OR per year of age 0.54, 95% CI 0.45 to 0.64) were less likely to be incorrectly using their restraints than younger users. Child restraint and booster users from non-English speaking families were more likely to be incorrectly using their restraints. Having more children in the car appeared to reduce incorrect use for booster (OR 0.18, 95% CI 0.06 to 0.57) and seatbelt users (OR 0.39, 95% CI 0.16 to 0.93). Conclusions There is a need to reduce incorrect restraint use by both education and improved restraint design. Education aimed at reducing incorrect use may need to be targeted differently to appropriate use programmes, as the predictive factors differ. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]