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Surya Nadi Pranayama is a yogic breathing technique that involves controlled breathing through the right nostril. The study aims to evaluate the effects of the 20-min practice of Surya Nadi pranayama (4 weeks) on cognition among schoolchildren, comparing it to observing a normal breathing pattern.

Abstract Background Dental caries is a major, multifactorial oral condition that causes the demineralization of tooth enamel and impacts approximately half of the world’s child population. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of dental caries among school-going children aged 7 to 13 years in Kabul city. Methods This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted with 491 students aged 7 to 13 years in Kabul during the first half of 2019. A multistage cluster sampling method was used, in which educational zones, schools, and classes were selected. The data were collected using pre-structured questionnaires through face-to-face interviews and oral examinations of students using dental probes and mouth mirrors while adhering to infection control protocols. The collected data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Science version 21.0, and a p-value

Purpose: This cross-sectional study aimed to estimate the prevalence and distribution of color vision deficiency (CVD) among school children aged 6–16 in the Moradabad district of Uttar Pradesh, India. Methods: Between November 1, 2022, and March 31, 2023, a multidisciplinary team conducted school-based eye screening camps, screening 1329 students from four schools. The screening included visual acuity measurement, refraction, ocular alignment evaluation, and Ishihara’s plate test for CVD. Results: Ocular examinations conducted on 1329 students from four schools unveiled a range of ocular conditions. These included bilateral moderate ptosis in 0.1%, nystagmus in 0.1%, hypermetropia in 0.6%, myopia in 7.0%, astigmatism in 2.8%, and pseudophakic in 0.1% of students. The study identified CVD in 2.4% of participants (2.8% of males and 2.2% of females). Further breakdown revealed a 2.4% prevalence on the right and 1.5% on the left, with red and green color vision deficiencies observed. Notably, primary education, middle education, and secondary education levels showed CVD prevalence of 0.4%, 0.97%, and 0.97%, respectively. Conclusion: The study contributes valuable insights into ocular morbidities, emphasizing the prevalence of CVD among school children in the Moradabad district. The findings underscore the need for tailored interventions, early screening, and awareness campaigns to address the specific needs of affected children in diverse geographical and educational settings.

Background: Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) among children are common globally and in India with the prevalence ranging from 4% to 15%. Musculoskeletal symptoms can be due to trauma or growing pains or symptoms of potentially life-threatening conditions such as malignancy, sepsis, and autoimmune disorders. With their indefinite onset and long latent period, early detection of these disorders and prompt treatment reduce the severity of outcomes; hence, screening is necessary. Objective: The objective of this study was to estimate the occurrence and describe the morbidity patterns of MSDs among school children in a selected school cluster of urban Bengaluru using the pediatric Gait, Arms, Legs, and Spine (pGALS) screening tool. Methods: A cross-sectional study was done, which included all the students of one randomly selected school cluster in one ward of urban Bengaluru. The total number of students was 260; 37 students did not get their parental consent, and 29 students were chronically absent. The pGALS tool has demonstrated an excellent sensitivity (around 97%) and specificity (around 98%) at all joints with high acceptability among children and parent/guardian and across cultures. Results: The overall occurrence of MSDs based on the pGALS tool among school children was 46.9% (91/194). Males were the most affected than females (males: 51.6% and females: 48.4%). Children in the age group of 10–15 years were most affected by MSDs (51.6%). Conclusion: The prevalence of MSDs is high among school-going children based on the pGALS screening tool, and this may be due to a recent sports event.

Background: Poor vision impairs the performance of school children and has a negative impact on their future. The prevalence of blindness in school children is estimated to be 0.8/1000 in the age group of 0–15 years. Most children with an uncorrected refractive error are asymptomatic; hence, periodic visual screening and primary eye care reduce the prevalence of refractive error and ocular morbidity. Objective: To study the prevalence of ocular morbidity among school children in urban and rural areas. Methods: Cross-sectional study was conducted in two randomly selected private schools in urban area and two randomly selected government schools in rural area among school children aged 6–15 years studying in standards I–X. They were selected from each class by systematic random sampling. Detailed history and ocular examination were carried out for all children. Results: The prevalence of ocular morbidity among study participants was high (20.3%). The major cause of ocular morbidity was refractive error in 17.4% of the cases. Age group of 5–7 years, being urban school child, illiterate parents were significantly associated with ocular morbidity (P < 0.05). Gender and religion were not associated with ocular morbidity. The most common ocular morbidity was refractive error (17.4%). Color blindness (1.5%), conjunctivitis (1.3%), and stye and chalazion (1.1%) were other ocular morbidities. Conclusion: Most cases of ocular morbidity were preventable or treatable if detected early. Hence, strategies including prevention at the primary and secondary level form core of any strategies to reduce ocular morbidities in school going children.

Abstract Background Anxiety and mood disorders are the main cause of illness in people under the age of 25, accounting for 45% of the global disease burden, whereas 4.6% of teenagers aged 15 to 19 are predicted to experience anxiety. Pakistan country, with a population of 200 million, has the worst mental health indicators and fewer than 500 psychiatrists. Despite the existence of various treatments for anxiety, this goes unrecognized and untreated. Due to a lack of awareness, evaluation, prevention, and interventional programs related to being implemented among adolescents in Pakistan, there is a rise in mental health issues in the earlier years of life. It calls for a critical need for indigenous, evidence-based interventions. The present study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)-based interventions to reduce anxiety symptoms among school children in Pakistan. Methods This study was a pre-post design, two-arm, single-blinded, feasibility, randomized controlled trial. Thirty-four participants (experimental group, n = 17; control group, n = 17) were recruited from four semi-government schools in Rawalpindi with a mean age of 15 (M = 15, SD = 0.73). Two instruments Beck Anxiety Inventory for Youth (BAI-Y II) and BASC-3 Behavioural and Emotional Screening System Student (BESS-SF) were used to assess the severity of symptoms. Participants in the intervention arm received eight-group therapy CBT sessions. A two-way factorial analysis was used to examine the efficacy of CBT in reducing symptom severity. Results This study’s findings showed that in comparison to the wait-list control group, CBT successfully improved anxiety symptoms among school children while enhancing their social skills. Conclusion This study will help improve the treatment for anxiety in Pakistan by prioritizing school-based intervention and group-based CBT intervention. Trial registration The trial has been registered at the American Economic Association’s registry for randomized controlled trials. RCT ID: AEARCTR-0009551 . Registered 2022–07-04.

AIM: To compare relative peripheral refraction (RPR) in Chinese school children with different refractive errors using multispectral refraction topography (MRT). METHODS: A total of 713 eyes of primary school children [172 emmetropia (E), 429 low myopia (LM), 80 moderate myopia (MM), and 32 low hypermetropia (LH)] aged 10 to 13y were analyzed. RPRs were measured using MRT without mydriasis. MRT results showed RPR at 0-15° (RPR 0-15), 15°-30° (RPR 15-30), and 30°-45° (RPR 30-45) annular in the inferior (RPR-I), superior (RPR-S), nasal (RPR-N), and temporal (RPR-T) quadrants. Spherical equivalent (SE) was detected and calculated using an autorefractor. RESULTS: There were significant differences of RPR 15-30 between groups MM [0.02 (-0.12; 0.18)] and LH [-0.13 (-0.36; 0.12)] (P

backround: Enuresis for most children is a source of shame and anxiety with a profound ef fect on sel f perception, relationship and school performance. Hence the study of nocturnal enuresis among primary school children in Calabar- Nigeria. Objectives: This was to determine the frequency of enuresis among primary school children in Calabar and to study the treatment modalities. Patients And Methods:This was a prospective cross sectional study. A questionnaire was answered by parents of 3,230 pupils from six selected schools during the school term between January to March, 2010. Results:The f requency of nocturnal enuresis was 6.7%. Enuresis frequency was higher among boys (7.3%) than girls (6.0%) though this was not statistically significant (P=0.216). Treatment methods used were me d i c a t i o n ( 1 . 6%) , water restriction (42.8%), awaking for voiding (27.3%) use of alarm bell (0.5%), herbal medication (8.0%), while 19.8% received no form of treatment. Help seeking behavior for this condition was poor as only 2.1% of this study population ever sought medical attention for this condition. The frequency of enuresis was similar to most reports in literature. Help-seeking behavior was poor. Parental education, advocacy and awareness creation on the availability of medical help for enuresis are suggested.

background: Vision disorders are important causes of childhood morbidity worldwide and if undetected, can lead to poor academic performance. Teachers can be trained to heighten their awareness and knowledge of common childhood vision disorders, thus enabling them to observe visual difficulties in pupils and notify caregivers for further evaluation and treatment in the context of the "School Health Programme." Objective: To determine the effects of training on teachers' knowledge of childhood vision disorders. Subjects and Methods: Using multi-staged sampling technique, a self-designed and selfadministered questionnaire was used to obtain information on teachers' knowledge of common childhood vision disorders, before and after six hours training. The pre and post test results were compared and analyzed. Results: The teachers consisted of 110 females (84.6 percent) and 20 males (15.4 percent). Seventy (53.8 percent) were from public schools, while 60 (46.2 percent) were from private schools. Before training, 74 (56.9 percent) teachers were aware of school entry vision screening and 14 teachers (10.8 percent) affirmed that vision problems might cause poor academic performance. With training, there was a significant improvement in the awareness to 76.9 percent and knowledge of vision disorders such as hypermetropia (p=0.002) and corneal opacity (p=0.000) increased significantly. School-type and educational qualification were found to affect the knowledge of childhood vision disorders. Conclusion: Primary school teachers had significant improvements in their knowledge of childhood vision disorders and ways to identify affected children in the classroom, following short term training. Such training should enable early detection of school children with vision disorders by their teachers, for purposes of early intervention and treatment.

Background: Group A streptococcus (GAS) is a major cause of mortality in man. Regular disease surveillance can be achieved through evaluation of throat carriage. Objectives: To evaluate GAS throat carriage amongst nursery and primary schools pupils in Benin City, Nigeria. Method: This cross sectional study was carried out between September and November 2011. A multistage random sampling method was used to recruit the pupils. Throat swabs were obtained for microscopy and Lancefied grouping. Results: 426 pupils were recruited of which 363(85.2) were in primary and 63(14.8%) in nursery schools. The subjects were aged 2 to 15years and 203(47.7%) were males. Of the 426 pupils, 123 (28.9%) had positive throat swabs for β haemolytic streptococcus (βHS). None of the isolate was GAS. The isolates were groups C (50.4%), D (38.2%) and G (11.4%). Conclusion: Although βHS throat carriage rate in this study is high, there was no GAS isolate. This may suggest low prevalence of GAS related diseases in the community.

Background: Hair grooming practices and hair characteristics are some of the host related risk factors for head lice infestation. Certain hair grooming practices and characteristics have been reported to affect head lice infestation. Objective: To determine the relationship between head lice infestation and hair grooming practices in Primary school children in PortHarcourt. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted, using a stratified multi-staged sampling technique. A total of 1350 pupils from thirteen primary schools located in three School Districts were recruited. Data was collected using a proforma completed by parents /guardians. The heads of the pupils were inspected for head lice and nits with the aid of a battery operated Robi lice comb, magnifying glass and a torch as light source. Results: Ten (0.7%) of the 1350 pupils had head lice infestation, all of whom were females. Seven (2.5%) of the 276 pupils with long hair (hair length greater than 5cm) had a significantly higher prevalence of head lice infestation, compared to 3 (0.3%) of the 1074 pupils with short hair (p < 0.001). Head lice infestation significantly increased with a reducing frequency of hair wash from 3 (0.3%) in those that washed daily to 1 (1.5%) in those that washed monthly (p = 0.034) but was not significantly associated with the use of chemicals to straighten hair. Head lice infestation significantly increased with reducing social class from 0 (0%) in social class I to 3 (9.1%) in social class V (p < 0.001). Conclusion: A higher prevalence of head lice infestation is significantly associated with longer hair and reduced frequency of hair wash.

Background: Carrying backpacks is believed to contribute to the musculoskeletal problems in school children. Studies on the use of backpacks by Nigerian school children are scanty. Objectives: To evaluate the use of backpack and associated problems among primary school children. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out on 813 children in six primary schools in Ado-Ekiti. Information about backpack use and associated problems were obtained. Results: 788 (96.9%) children carried backpacks daily. The backpacks were all double strapped and 85% pupils wore them on both shoulders. The backpacks of 64.1% of the pupils contained educational materials. In 79.1% of cases, the backpacks exceeded 10% of their body weights. Pain and loss of sporting time were associated with carrying backpacks in 23.2% and 8.2% respectively, 15.3% took analgesic and 5.5% had medical consultations because of backpack injuries. No pupil missed school and none was hospitalised for backpack injury. Complaint of pain was significantly associated with older subjects, carrying heavier backpack and longer period of carrying packs (p

Background: Iodine deficiency disorder results in avoidable brain damage, cognitive impairment, and inhibited growth and development among children. The aim of this study was to ascertain pervasiveness of IDD in the Bhuj City of Kutch district of Gujarat by measuring urinary iodine excretion levels(UIE) and iodine intake from salt among school-going children. Material and methods: A cross-sectional investigation was conducted to evaluate iodine deficiency levels in 350 schoolchildren of both genders, 6-12 years of ages, from Bhuj Taluka, a subdivision of the Kachchh district. The evaluation involved estimating urinary iodine levels through the Sandell–Kolthoff reaction and determining the iodine levels in samples of cooking salt using Spot testing kit (STK). Results: With a median iodine levels in urine of 166.93 μg/L, there appears to be no biochemical evidence of iodine deficiency in the region. Approximately 98.57% of salt samples found iodine levels exceeding 15 ppm, while only about 1.42% had iodine levels below 15 ppm, indicating that household salt samples contain adequate iodine levels. Conclusions: The region's median concentration of Iodine content found in urine 166.93μg/L, suggesting the absence of biochemical iodine deficiency. Analysis of salt samples revealed that approximately 98.57% contained iodine levels exceeding 15 ppm, while only about 1.42% had iodine content below this threshold. This indicates that household salt samples possess adequate iodine levels, aligning with criteria for monitoring progress in eradicating iodine deficiency disorders as a public health concern.

Introduction: Vernal Keratoconjunctivitis (VKC) is a chronic ocular condition affecting school-age children, particularly in hot, allergen-rich regions. It presents with symptoms such as intense itching, tearing, foreign body sensation, and sticky discharge, causing discomfort and management challenges in resource-limited settings. VKC impacts public health significantly due to its high prevalence and effect on academic performance and school attendance. Method: This cross-sectional study included 1521 school children aged 6 to 16 years in Western Uttar Pradesh. Comprehensive eye examinations were conducted, and VKC was diagnosed based on conjunctival and limbal papillae. A structured questionnaire collected data on socio-demographic factors, medical care access, and VKC's impact on daily life and school attendance. Descriptive statistics and Pearson chi-square tests were used for analysis. Result: Of the participants, 242 (15.9%) had VKC, with a higher prevalence among boys (56.2%). Most cases were mild (66%), with 34% severe. Symptoms included itching, stinging, tearing, photophobia, and discharge. Severe VKC resulted in higher rates of constant eye rubbing and tear production. School absenteeism was significantly higher in severe cases (78%) compared to mild cases (47%) (P

Abstract Background Deteriorating global physical activity (PA) levels among children warrants new and sustainable approaches to increase PA levels. This study aimed to determine the immediate and sustainable influences of a 9-week movement program on the PA levels in 7 to 8-year-old school children in the Raymond Mhlaba Municipality in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. Methods A randomized control trial including two groups (control group (CG) and intervention group (IG)), pre–post–retest (after six months of no intervention) design was used. Seventy school children, mean age 7.12 years (± 0.71) (n = 35 IG; n = 35 CG) participated in the study. A 9-week movement program was followed twice a week for 30 min during school hours. PA was measured for 7 consecutive days using a hip-mounted wGT3X-BT Actigraph accelerometer. The Test of Gross Motor Development-Third Edition (TGMD-3) was used to assess motor skills. Hierarchical Linear Modelling (HLM) was applied to analyze the data with time, sex, and group as predictors. Effect sizes were computed using Cohen’s d-cut points to assess the practical significance of changes over time. Estimated regression coefficients were also computed to determine the strength of the relationship between moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and fundamental movement skills (FMS). Results Before the intervention, 60% of the IG met the 60 min of daily MVPA guideline, while light physical activity (LPA) per day was also higher than sedentary behavior (SB) in both groups. No immediate (p

ObjectiveTo determine the serum antibody level and risk factors in the adolescent population in a county in Zhejiang Province， following the immunization with inactivated COVID-19 vaccine， and to construct a prediction model for antibody concentration.MethodsWe conducted the study in a county in Zhejiang Province， employing a stratified cluster random sampling strategy in school children who had received the inactivated COVID-19 vaccine. Data on gender， age， type of vaccine， and time of vaccination was collected. Serum samples were also collected to test for anti-S and N IgG antibody against the SARS-CoV-2 by using chemiluminescent immunoassay （CLIA）. Risk factors were determined to construct a prediction model for antibody concentration.ResultsThe IgG antibody concentration was significantly higher in girls， those who received two doses， and those who had simply received the KX vaccine . It decreased with age and time interval between the sampling and last vaccination. The prediction model constructed by random forest regression in the study had a better model fit and predictive ability than that by the multivariable linear stepwise regression.ConclusionGender， age， vaccination dose， type of vaccine， and time of vaccination are associated with vaccination effectiveness of inactivated COVID-19 vaccines in adolescents. Prediction model could predict the antibody level in the vaccinated population， which can provide a new tool for better evaluation of vaccination effectiveness against emerging infectious diseases in future.

Galal Faisal Abdulqader Abdulla Albani,1 Widad Ibrahim Abdelgadir,2,3 Amal Abdelgadir Ali Mohamed,4 Magda Yousif,5 Amna Mohammed Ali Mustafa,6 Egbal Abbashar Algmair Almkiy,7,8 Khadiga Z M Mohammed,4,9 Eman Ahmed Saad Mohamed,7 Fahad Abdullah A Alghamdi,10 Raga Gasim Ahmed,11 Manal SA Hakami,10 Niemat A Dinar,10 Amal Alsulami,2 AbdAllah Ibrahim AbdAlrahman Mudawi,12 Waled AM Ahmed10 1Department of Nursing, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Aljanad University for Science and Technology, Taiz, Yemen; 2Department of Community Health Nursing & Mental Nursing Sciences College of Nursing,Taif university, Taif, Saudi Arabia; 3Faculty of Nursing Sciences Bahri University, Sudan; 4Department of Maternal and Child Nursing Sciences College of Nursing,Taif university, Taif, Saudi Arabia; 5Nursing Department, Prince Sultan Military College of Health Sciences, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia; 6Faculty of Nursing Sciences, Jazan University, Jazan Saudi Arabia; 7Department of Nursing, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Buraydah College, Buraydah, Saudi Arabia; 8Faculty of Nursing Sciences, Alneelain University, Sudan; 9Nursing Faculty, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt; 10Faculty of Nursing, Al-Baha University, Al-Baha, Saudi Arabia; 11Department of Nursing, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Al-Baha University, Al-Baha, Saudi Arabia; 12Oral and Dental Health Department, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Al-Baha University, Al-Baha, Saudi ArabiaCorrespondence: Waled AM Ahmed; Amal Abdelgadir Ali Mohamed, Tel +966508245369; +966550367392, Email wahmed@bu.edu.sa; ammohamed@tu.edu.saBackground: Oral health education programs have long been considered an essential part of oral health policies. This is important for reducing the risk of oral diseases through health enhancement and voluntary behavioral changes due to learning opportunities. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of school-based oral health education program on oral health in school children in Sudan.Methods: A quasi-experimental study was conducted at four governmental schools in Khartoum, Sudan, between August 2018, and March 2022. A total of 423 school children were randomly allocated into the control (n = 211) and study (n = 212) groups. An adapted questionnaire was administered to students before and after the intervention to assess their knowledge and practice of oral health. The study group participated in oral health education activities. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS), version 21.Results: The findings revealed that the mean knowledge at the pre-educational program was 9.3066 (SD = 3.91078) and the mean knowledge after the educational program was 21.2736 (SD = 2.13982). The scores indicated that the school children had significantly higher knowledge and practice scores after the oral health education program.Conclusion: The study concluded that education program on oral health improved students’ oral health knowledge and practices. Imposing theoretical and practical lessons on oral and dental health in school curricula can motivate students to maintain oral health care, and this improves oral health status.Keywords: education program, school children, oral health, knowledge, practice, Sudan

Vision screening during childhood is vital for the early detection and treatment of visual impairment that may significantly impact a child’s development and quality of life. This nationwide cross-sectional study used data from Greenland’s national electronic medical records, including 2,493 six-year-old children from July 2017 to July 2023, to evaluate the coverage rate of vision screening and the prevalence of low vision in Greenlandic schoolchildren. The participation rate in vision screening increased from 43% in 2017 to 61% in 2022, while referral rates to ophthalmologists decreased from 14% to 5%, despite a consistent prevalence of low vision. The mean prevalence of impaired vision (0.3 logMAR / ≤0.50 Snellen decimal) in the better-seeing eye at the vision screening throughout the study period was 3%. At the same time, it was 8% for the worse-seeing eyes, indicating a continuous need for ophthalmological evaluation of the Greenlandic children. This study highlights healthcare delivery challenges in Greenland’s sparsely populated areas and emphasises the need for new national guidelines to optimise referral processes. Utilising other healthcare professionals, such as optometrists, for vision screenings and ensuring follow-ups are critical for improving the visual health outcomes of Greenlandic children.

AbstractBackground: Iron deficiency is one of the leading causes of anaemia, with those most affected being children and women of childbearing age, in Brazil there is a scarcity of studies involving the local prevalence of anaemia. Aim: To evaluate anaemia and associated factors in schoolchildren in Santa Cruz do Sul through the analysis of biochemical and haematological markers and parasitological examination of faeces. Subjects and methods: School children from 10 to 12 years of age were evaluated through complete blood count, serum ferritin, C-reactive protein and stool parasitological examination, as well as socio-demographic characteristics and prophylaxis with ferrous sulphate in childhood. Results: It was found that 13.0% of the population was anaemic, girls were very slightly overrepresented among the anaemic children. Only 5.3% had altered haematocrit levels; 26.6% had low Mean Corpuscular Volume levels; 18.4% had low ferritin levels; 2.4% had increased C-reactive protein levels, and 21.7% had altered eosinophils. As for the socioeconomic level, classes A2 and D presented lower haemoglobin levels, as well as class D presenting lower ferritin levels, although without statistical significance. Only 6.0% of the population presented iron-deficiency anaemia and 46.0% of the schoolchildren had used ferrous sulphate supplementation in childhood. Conclusion: The prevalence of anaemia in the studied municipality is low, probably due to the high municipal human development index. Epidemiological studies are essential to characterise the population in a systematic form, to prevent future problems.

Background: Streptococcus pyogenes is one of the major public health concerns causing human infections ranging from skin and throat infections to acute rheumatic fever and post streptococcal glomerulonephritis. Moreover, nowadays drug-resistant strains of S. pyogenes are emerging and can be transmitted through apparently healthy carriers to susceptible individuals. Objective: To assess the prevalence, antimicrobial susceptibility pattern and associated factors S. pyogenes among apparently healthy school children in Mekelle city primary schools, Northern Ethiopia. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 504 apparently healthy school children from February to May 2018. We used structured questionnaire to collect socio-demographic data. Throat specimens were collected using sterile cotton Swab and transported for culture, antimicrobial susceptibility and identification of S. pyogenes according to standard operating procedures. Data were analyzed using Stata 13 for descriptive statistics, bivariate and multivariate logistic regression. P-value

IntroductionThe present study aims to assess PE teachers' perception about the use of teaching styles during curricular lessons.MethodsThe sample involved a total of 83 PE teachers (M = 41, F = 42, main age = 43,74 ± 10,76) divided according to years of service (0–4 = 36%, 5–10 = 34%, and over 10 = 30%) and academic training (Higher Institutes of Physical Education = 44% and master's degree = 56%). Teachers complete a digitalized version of a self-produced questionnaire to assess how many times they use each teaching styles during the last month.ResultsResults show that (a) reproduction rather than production teaching styles were often used, while reproduction teachings styles were most frequently used regardless of years of service.DiscussionFuture research should investigate PE teacher's behavior to enhance the quality of physical education in school.

Objectives: In Alberta, Canada, the COVID-19 vaccination program for children aged 5–11 years was launched on November 26, 2021. Our objectives were to determine the cumulative vaccine coverage, stratified by age, during the first thirteen months of vaccine availability, and investigate factors associated with vaccine uptake. Study design: This retrospective cohort study used population-based administrative health data. Methods: We determined cumulative vaccine coverage among 5–11 year olds, stratified by year of age, during the first thirteen months of vaccine availability and used a modified Poisson regression to evaluate factors associated with vaccine uptake. Results: Of 377,103 eligible children, 44.8 % (n = 168,761) received one or more doses of COVID-19 vaccine during the study period (9.7 % received only one dose, while 35.1 % received 2 doses). Almost 90 % of initial doses were received within the first two months of vaccine availability. We found a step-wise relationship between increasing child age and higher vaccine coverage. Conclusions: Plateaued vaccine uptake indicates a need to adapt programmatic efforts to encourage parents to act on positive vaccination intentions, and reach the large contingent of parents who have reported that they remain undecided. In order to promote vaccine uptake, messaging around vaccine safety and need should be tailored to child age, rather than uniformly applied across the 5–11 year age range.

Abstract Study design Systematic review of Randomised controlled trials. Objectives With the increasing incidence of back pain among children and its untold implications to their future, back education tailored in an effective way would be indicated. However literature appears unsettled. This study aims to review available literature to determine the effect of school-based back education in preventing and managing low back pain in school children. Methods Randomized controlled trials carried out on elementary and secondary school children of ages 6 to 18 years and published in English language were included. Back education taught in hospitals or other settings were excluded. Primary outcome was back pain prevalence and secondary outcomes were constituted from the study characteristics of selected studies which includes: back behavior, knowledge, postural habits, physical activity, fear-avoidance beliefs, back pack carriage, pain intensity, skills and self efficacy. Databases searched were PEDro, HINARI, PubMed, Cochrane, and Google Scholar. Available stiudies from 2000 to March 2022 were retrieved. Quality of studies were assessed using the PEDro scale. Obtained studies were descriptively analyzed. Results A total 8420 studies were retrieved and 8 studies (with 1239 participants) were included in this review. Four studies each assessed back knowledge and back behavior, and two assessed back pain prevalence. There were improvements in back knowledge and back behaviour, but effectiveness of back care education on back pain prevalence was not conclusive. Forms of education used involved the indirect method of conditioning the environment and the direct method which made use of theory, practical lessons and educational books and materials. Conclusion Back care education programmes in schools are effective in improving back care knowledge, behavior and reduction in low back pain frequency. Reduction in back pain prevalence is not conclusive. Back care education could be incorporated as part of schools’ education programmes. Limitations include exclusion of non English language studies and inconsistent outcome measures. Funding source None. Registration This review protocol was registered under the International platform of Registered systematic review and meta-analysis protocol (INPLASY) with the registration number; INPLASY202310044 and DOI number; https://doi.org/10.37766/inplasy2023.1.0044

Background: The majority of oral diseases, which are among the most common illnesses worldwide, can be avoided. Adequate oral health depends on establishing significant tooth brushing routines to prevent gingivitis and dental caries and controlling the consumption of sugared foods. Elementary schools are a potential target for these interventions to support children in developing healthy behaviors independently. Large scale school-based programs are effective in reducing preventable diseases through cost-effective interventions. Objectives: To establish and assess a new activity-based approach for teaching schoolchildren regarding tooth brushing, by using egg cartons as models for teeth. Materials and Methods: Two methods of teaching tooth brushing technique to school children of age group of 8–12 years were compared: (i) Conventional method (n = 15): Instructions on study model (ii) egg carton simulation method (n = 15): Hands-on activity on egg cartons as simulated models. The outcome assessed was the plaque index (Silness and Loe, 1964). Gender-wise comparisons were done using a Chi-square test for comparing the categorical variables. Results: Plaque scores compared using an independent t-test showed significant improvement in the egg carton group after the teaching sessions (P < 0.01 for the egg carton method). Conclusion: The egg carton simulation method is an effective method for plaque removal compared to the conventional approach as there is significant plaque score reduction in children after the teaching session.

Abstract Background Peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) is an important tool for assessing lung function, which can be affected by environmental and physical factors such as altitude, nutrition, genetics, age, height, and weight. Conducting a study to assess the correlation between peak expiratory flow rate and anthropometric measurements in Tanzanian schoolchildren is crucial to derive a population-specific prediction formula and further simplify respiratory health assessment. Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted in a single center private primary and secondary school in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania using data from an asthma screening camp. Variables of interest were height, weight, Body Mass Index (BMI) and PEFR. Independent t-test was performed to identify any differences in mean flow rate values between different ethnicities and genders. Correlation coefficients (r) were used to observe the relationship between PEFR and anthropometric measurements. A prediction equation by gender was generated using linear regression analysis. Statistical significance was set at the 5% level. All statistical data was analyzed using SPSS version 25.0. Results The study involved 260 participants with a mean age of 9.5 years. Males were 51.2% and 65% of participants were of Asian ethnicity. PEFR was not observed to differ across the different ethnic groups and genders. Height was found to have the strongest correlation coefficient of 0.745, while BMI had the weakest correlation coefficient of 0.366. The strongest correlation was found with height for females (r = 0.787), while the weakest was with body mass index for boys (r = 0.203). The derived prediction equation for males was PEFR = 279.169 (Height of Student in meters) —134.12, while the predictive equation for females was PEFR = 318.32 (Height of Student in meters) —195.69. Conclusion This study found a strong correlation between PEFR and anthropometric characteristics in school children from Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. A prediction equation by gender for PEFR was developed based on anthropometric characteristics. This equation may be applied in population-based studies or situations where peak flow meters are not readily available. Further research is needed to explore how well this prediction formula performs in other Tanzanian settings and to determine other factors that may affect lung function in this population.

Abstract Background MicroRNAs (miRNAs) can control several biological processes. Thus, the existence of these molecules plays a significant role in regulating human iron metabolism or homeostasis. Purpose The study aimed to determine the role of circulating microRNAs and hepcidin in controlling iron homeostasis and evaluating possible anemia among school children. Methods The study was based on a biochemical and cross-sectional survey study that included three hundred fifty school children aged 12–18 years old. RT–PCR and immunoassay analysis were accomplished to estimate iron concentration, Hgb, serum ferritin (SF), soluble transferrin receptor (sTfR), total body iron stores (TIBs), total oxidative stress (TOS), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), α-1-acid glycoprotein (AGP), high sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), and miRNAs; miR-146a, miR-129b, and miR-122 in 350 school adolescents. Results Iron disorders were cross-sectionally predicted in 28.54% of the study population; they were classified into 14.26% with ID, 5.7% with IDA, and 8.6% with iron overload. The overall proportion of iron depletion was significantly higher in girls (20.0%) than in boys (8.6%). MicroRNAs; miR-146a, miR-125b, and miR-122 were significantly upregulated with lower hepcidin expression in adolescence with ID and IDA compared to iron-overloaded subjects, whereas downregulation of these miRNAs was linked with higher hepcidin. Also, a significant correlation was recorded between miRNAs, hepcidin levels, AGP, hs-CRP, TAC, and other iron-related indicators. Conclusion Molecular microRNAs such as miR-146a, miR-125b, and miR-122 were shown to provide an additional means of controlling or regulating cellular iron uptake or metabolism either via the oxidative stress pathway or regulation of hepcidin expression via activating genes encoding Hfe and Hjv activators, which promote iron regulation. Thus, circulating miRNAs as molecular markers and serum hepcidin could provide an additional means of controlling or regulating cellular iron and be associated as valuable markers in diagnosing and treating cases with different iron deficiencies.

Background: Cultural dissonance and exclusion in schools persevere because of a lack of response to diversity. In South Africa, coloniality manifests itself in teaching and learning practices through promoting and privileging selective cultural norms in schools, often to the detriment of poor black children. Aim: Despite the availability of educational scholarships for poor children as a way to promote economic success, these opportunities are often laden with cultural and hegemonic expectations making them challenging to navigate, often rendering the experiences as traumatic rather than developmental. Setting: The article reflects on children’s schooling experiences in South Africa. Methods: This qualitative exposition presents insights from a primary school teacher about her own childhood experiences of exclusion, alienation, and cultural dissonance in South African schools. Results: It reveals the pervasiveness of coloniality and how social justice has still not fully permeated schools. The interplay between race and class remains salient. Conclusion: Schools should intensify efforts to promote inclusion by recognising diversity and avoiding normalising singular narratives in diverse contexts. Educational opportunities given to children from disadvantaged backgrounds should be accompanied by psycho-social support to ease the culture shock and alienation they feel when learning in new contexts that differ from their norm. Contribution: The article demonstrates that culture is more powerful than politics because, despite the democratic political context, the ‘cultural bomb’ of decoloniality is all-encompassing.

Background: Egg is a cheap source of essential micronutrients and high-quality protein, which can contribute to the daily nutritional needs of children, support their growth and brain development. Aim: The study evaluated the effectiveness of egg supplementation on nutritional status, physical fitness, and cognition of school-aged Children (8–12 Years) in Ho Municipality, Ghana. Methods: A school-based, double-blind randomized controlled trial design was adopted. Children aged 8 to 12 years from government-run primary schools were randomly allocated to receive either egg supplementation three times a week for three months or no supplementation at all for three months. Dietary intakes using a repeated 24-h dietary recall, Raven's cognition test, fitness level, BMI-for-age, and serum levels of ferritin, zinc, and albumin were assessed at baseline and after the intervention. Results: At pre-intervention, mean intake of several nutrients, including energy, CHO, protein, fat, iron zinc and folate were significantly higher in the intervention group. Post-intervention, these differences significantly increased for protein, fat, and iron, and reduced for energy, carbohydrate, folate, vitamin B6 and 12. Children on egg supplementation had a much higher increase in vitamin A intake (142.0 μg) than the controls (49.8 μg) between pre-and post-intervention. Regarding the physical fitness markers, pre-intervention mean handgrip, forward jump and total fitness scores were all higher in the intervention group and similar for the 50-m run. Post-intervention, the difference was lost while the total fitness score increased rather among controls (p

Objective: to detect the prevalence of mental health problems, including behavioral and emotional difficulties among school children (6-15 years) in Tripoli, Libya as observed by their parents and teachers. Methods: The study took place in Tripoli, Libya. Data was collected over three months period between January and March 2022 from parents and teachers. The Arabic version of Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ. Goodman 2002) were used. The sample size was 300 children aged between 6 and 15 years who were attending compulsory education. Four schools were randomly selected and then children were randomly sampled from each class. Parents were asked to hand over the questionnaire to their child’s teacher and collect them later. Data was analyzed to describe normative scores, bandings and cut-offs for normal, borderline and abnormal scores. Only public schools were included in the study. Results: When it came to the perception of teachers and parents, it was found that the response rate for parents and teachers were almost the same only 245 questionnaires were returned (134 male and 111 female) giving a response rate of 81.6%. out of these, 208, both the parents and teacher questionnaires were returned (84.8%),26 filled in only the parents' questionnaires (10.6%), and 11 returned only the teacher’s questionnaire (4.4%). TEACHERS rated their pupils consistently as showing difficulties in all areas with (23.0 %) of the children considered to be displaying abnormal behavior (Total Difficulties Score). The highest proportion of abnormal behavior was for peer relation (17.0%) and conduct problems (18.0%). PARENTS rated their children as having fewer problems than rated by teachers, but rates were still high with (15%) of the children receiving total difficulty scores in the abnormal band. The most problematic areas as assessed by parents were peer relations (29%) followed by emotion problems (22%). Conclusion: Parent SDQs revealed high rates of children with conduct, emotional and peer problems falling above the 90th centile established in the UK sample. Teachers SDQs revealed higher rates of children with conduct problems. Comparison with UK and Egypt data showed abnormal total difficulties score of 11.9% which is a bit higher than UK (10.1%) but lower than that of Egypt (20.6%). Much greater investment in child mental health care is needed. More efforts are needed to identify those children and decide what we can usefully do to help the many-not only the few.

Background and Objective: Anaemia is a common clinical condition that affects the majority of school aged children. Reduced resistance to disease, increased susceptibility to infection, impaired physical development, and poor school performance are all consequences of anaemia in this group. The present study was designed with the objective of estimating the prevalence of anaemia among school children in Bengaluru. This included identifying the associated factors or causes and consequences of anaemia. Methods: A school based cross-sectional study was conducted among children in schools from 3rd to 8th standard in Bengaluru Urban North Division Karnataka State, India, over a period of one year. 250 children were selected using convenience sampling. Results: The overall prevalence of anaemia among school going children was found to be 21.2%. Prevalence of anaemia was significant among variables like socioeconomic status, dietary habits, increased heart rate, breathlessness, lack of energy, dizziness, irregular menstrual cycles, jaundice, blood loss during menstruation, menstrual cycle pattern, pallor signs of palpebral conjunctiva, mucous membrane, and skin, splenomegaly and hepatomegaly, consumption of chicken, fish, citrus fruit, milk, Mizāj ‘Ām (overall mizaj of body, specifically choleric) duration of menstrual flow, headache, poor wound healing, and chronic disease. Conclusion: The overall prevalence of anaemia in our study of school children in Bengaluru (21.2%) was lower than the prevalence in the data recently shown by NFHS-5. Prevalence of anaemia was highly significant among variables like low socioeconomic status, dietary deficiencies, blood loss, and chronic infections. There were also highly significant correlations with several clinical findings.

Abstract Background Vitamin D and calcium-rich foods, exposure to sunlight, and physical activities (PA) play a pivotal role in promoting the production of sufficient vitamin D and improving grip strength needed for better bone health among school children. Purpose This study aimed to determine the effects of hand grip muscle strength (HGS), vitamin D in addition to diets, and PA on bone health status among 6–12 years old schoolchildren. Methods This study was based on a cross-sectional observational design, which was descriptive in nature. A diverse sample of 560 elementary school children aged 6–12 years old were invited to participate in this descriptive cross-sectional study. The Dual-Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry (DXA), QUS technique, and ACTi graph GT1M accelerometer were used respectively as a valid tools to identify BMD, BMC, and other parameters of bone health like c-BUA values and bone stiffness (SI), and physical activity (PA) of all individuals participated in this study. In addition, a hydraulic dynamometer was used to measure hand grip strength among the participants. Moreover, an immunoassay technique was used to measure the serum levels of vitamin 25(OH)D level, and bone metabolism markers; NTX, DPD, Ca, and sBAP in all participants. Bone loss (osteoporosis) was cross-sectionally predicted in 19.64% of the total population, most of whom were girls (14.3% vs. 5.4% for boys; P = 0.01). Compared to boys, the incidence of osteoporosis was higher and significantly correlated in girls with lower HGS, deficient vitamin D, inadequate vitamin D and Ca intake, greater adiposity, poor PA, and lower sun exposure. Also, in girls, lower vitamin 25(OH)D levels, and poor HGS were shown to be significantly associated with lower values of BMD, BMC, SI, and higher values of bone resorption markers; NTX, DPD, and sBAP and lower serum Ca than do in boys. The findings suggested that deficient vitamin D, lower HGS, adiposity, PA, and sun exposure as related risk factors to the pravelence of bone loss among school children, particularly in girls. In addition, these parameters might be considered diagnostic non-invasive predictors of bone health for clinical use in epidemiological contexts; however, more studies are required.

Soil-transmitted helminthiases (STH) are among the neglected tropical diseases and infect more than 24% of the world population. The World Health Organization recommends regular monitoring of STH’s prevalence and intensity following mass drug administrations to evaluate their effectiveness and inform future control strategies. This study evaluated the prevalence, intensity, and risk factors of STH infections among school children aged 6 to 14 years old in northwestern Tanzania. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 728 school children in the Kagera region in 2021. Participants were selected using a two-stage cluster sampling method. A questionnaire was used to collect data on the risk factors. Stool samples were examined using the Kato–Katz technique. The data were analysed using STATA. The overall prevalence of STH was 56.2% (95% CI: 52.5–59.8, 409/728). About 5.7% and 1.1% of the infected children had moderate-intensity infections with Ascaris lumbricoides and Trichuris trichiura, respectively. Risk factors included the mother’s occupation as a farmer (aOR: 1.2, p = 0.002) and not washing hands with water and soap (aOR: 1.4, p = 0.035). Washing one’s hands after using the toilet (aOR: 0.6; p = 0.024) is a preventive measure against STH infections. STH was prevalent in the study area. The mother’s occupation (farmer) and the lack of handwashing with water and soap influenced STH transmission. Conversely, washing hands after visiting the toilet and after playing with soil reduced the risk of STH infection.

Repetitive practice can become an exploratory activity where instruction and discovery are linked, allowing instruction and guidance through tasks that help to construct and acquire the knowledge and skills that make up the content. (1) Background: The aim of the study was to show how a teaching method based on guided discovery would affect the teaching of children’s aquatic competence in schoolchildren with different levels of competence. (2) Methods: An observational study was conducted with 385 schoolchildren (195 boys and 189 girls) aged 3–5 years belonging to a charter kindergarten, using an Instrument for the Measurement of Aquatic Competence in Children (SMACC) consisting of 17 items grouped into three dimensions: socio-affective, cognitive, and motor. (3) Results: After measuring aquatic competence, all age groups and all variables (motor, cognitive, and socio-affective) showed differences between pre- and post-scores and a high magnitude of effect size. When the teaching intervention was analyzed according to the level of aquatic competence of the age group, improvements were found in all variables in both the low and high-competence groups. (4) Conclusions: This study describes how guided discovery instruction has equal effects at different levels of proficiency. Furthermore, when this type of instruction was used, aquatic competence was explained not only by the motor and socio-affective dimensions but also by the cognitive variable.

A previous short time span study related to the effectiveness of a teaching pack (TP) in improving the adherence to the Mediterranean Diet (MD) showed positive results. The present study was aimed at investigating and confirming those results, with a follow up data collection, in the same sample, a year after the baseline intervention. Pre- and post-intervention assessments were conducted. Weight and height were measured. Eating patterns/lifestyle were assessed by the KIDMED test and questionnaires. Thirteen schools in three areas with low, medium and high prevalence of overweight/obesity (North, Center and South respectively) were involved, with a representative baseline cluster sample of 494 fourth class children (8–10 years old) in 2015. An intervention group and a control group were recruited in each school; the intervention group (n = 395) got the intervention, the control group (n = 99) did not. The children’s KIDMED score changes were the main outcome measures. Differences in percentages of adherence and in yes/no answers on the KIDMED test, at baseline and after one year, for both the intervention and the control groups, were assessed through contingency tables and statistical tests. Improvements in the high and low adherence rates to MD were observed (high adherence: 24.4% to 43.3%; low adherence: 15.0% to 3.9%, p < 0.0001). The percentages of subjects with optimal adherence improved in both sexes (females: 25.5% to 49.5%, p < 0.0001; males: 23.1% to 36.6%, p < 0.0001) in all the geographical areas and ponderal status classes. Accompanying free distribution of fruit and vegetables with a nutritional intervention led by trained teachers with a cross-curricular approach can be successful in promoting healthy eating in children.

Introduction: Physical inactivity is a major health concern among adolescents and is an independent, modifiable risk factor for several non-communicable diseases. Despite the World Health Organization recommended physical activity levels, many adolescents do not meet these guidelines. This study was conducted among secondary school students in Palpa district of Nepal to assess their physical activity levels and associated factors. Methods: A modified version of the Physical Activity Questionnaire Adolescents was used to collect data from 506 grade eight and nine students from six schools in Palpa district. Results: The results revealed that only 25.31% of students engaged in physical activity quite often or always, and only 23.10% met the daily WHO recommendation of at least 60 minutes of physical activity per day. Additionally, females were less likely to achieve the recommended physical activity level compared with males. Conclusions: The low levels of physical activity among secondary school students in Palpa district of Nepal highlight the need for interventions to promote physical activity. This study identified several factors associated with low physical activity levels, including limited break time at school, lack of parks or playgrounds near homes, and gender differences.

Abstract Introduction To investigate the prevalence of fundus tessellation (FT), and the threshold for screening FT using an artificial intelligence (AI) technology in Chinese children. Methods The Nanjing Eye Study was a population-based cohort study conducted in children born between September 2011 and August 2012 in Yuhuatai District of Nanjing. The data presented in this paper were obtained in 2019, when these children were 7 years old and underwent 45° non-mydriatic fundus photography. FT in whole fundus, macular area, and peripapillary area was manually recognized from fundus photographs and classified into three grades. Fundus tessellation density (FTD) in these areas was obtained by calculating the average exposed choroid area per unit area using artificial intelligence (AI) technology based on fundus photographs. The threshold for screening FT using FTD was determined using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. Results Among 1062 enrolled children (mean [± standard deviation] spherical equivalent: − 0.28 ± 0.70 D), the prevalence of FT was 42.18% in the whole fundus (grade 1: 36.53%; grade 2: 5.08%; grade 3: 0.56%), 45.57% in macular area (grade 1: 43.5%; grade 2: 1.60%; grade 3: 0.50%), and 49.72% in peripapillary area (grade 1: 44.44%; grade 2: 4.43%; grade 3: 0.85%), respectively. The threshold value of FTD for screening severe FT (grade ≥ 2) was 0.049 (area under curve [AUC] 0.985; sensitivity 98.3%; specificity 92.3%) in the whole fundus, 0.069 (AUC 0.987; sensitivity 95.5%; specificity 96.2%) in the macular area, and 0.094 (AUC 0.980; sensitivity 94.6%; specificity 94.2%) in the peripapillary area, respectively. Conclusion Fundus tessellation affected approximately 40 in 100 children aged 7 years in China, indicating the importance and necessity of early FT screening. The threshold values of FTD provided by this study had high accuracy for detecting severe FT and might be applied for rapid screening.

The aim of this study was to assess the level of odontal lesions to permanent and temporary teeth in a group of school-aged children and to identify the determining factors of odontal lesions in relation to children’s diet. Material and method. The study group included 200 children, 78 girls (representing 39% of the entire study group) and 122 boys (representing 61%), aged between 7 and 16 years old, with a mean age of 12.3 ± 3 years. The majority of participants were from urban areas (190 children, representing 95%), while the remaining 10 children (5%) were from rural areas. The data were statistically processed, and the results were considered significant, and important results for this study were centralized. Results. A total of 614 teeth with lesions were identified, 560 being permanent teeth and 54 being temporary teeth. For permanent teeth: 171 (30.54%) in the first quadrant (majority 1.6 and 1.7), 120 (21.43%) in the second quadrant (majority 2.6 and 2.7), 125 (22.32%) in the fourth quadrant (majority 4.7 and 4.6) and 144 (25.71%) in the third quadrant (majority 3.6 and 3.7). For temporary teeth: 14 (25.93%) in the first quadrant (5.5 and 5.4), 10 (18.52%) in the second quadrant (6.5 and 6.4), 16 (29.63%) in the fourth quadrant (8.5 and 8.4), 14 (25.93%) in the third quadrant (mostly 7.5). Conclusions. Dental caries was present for most children included in the study group. Statistically significant associations were found with the consumption of acidic drinks, pre-meal sweets, juices, and energy drinks. The number of teeth with class I caries increases with age.

Nur Zakiah Mohd Saat,1 Ruzita Abd Talib,1 Sami F Alarsan,1 Nesreen Saadeh,2 Ghada Shahrour3 1Centre for Community Health Studies (Reach), Faculty of Health Sciences, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, 50300, Malaysia; 2Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan; 3Department of Psychiatric Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, JordanCorrespondence: Sami F Alarsan, Email P106966@siswa.ukm.edu.myAim: Obesity is currently one of the main health problems and represents a challenge for health education programs. Experts point out that obesity is becoming a global epidemic as the number of children suffering from obesity has increased at alarming rates in developing and developed countries. The main objective of this scoping review was identifying the risk factors for overweight and obesity in school children aged 6 to 18 years.Methods: Included articles were published between January 1993 and June 2022, written in English, and focused on school children aged 6 to 18 years. The search was performed using PubMed, CINAHL, and Embase databases. In total, 153 articles were included in the final qualitative analysis of the study findings.Results: The findings of this scoping review showed that the risk factors for overweight and obesity are mainly categorized into socioeconomic and household factors, environmental factors, behavioral factors, and biological factors. In addition, the interaction between these factors was found to be a significant risk factor for overweight and obesity among school children aged 6 to 18 years.Conclusion: The study underscores the need for targeted, school-based interventions to address the risk factors contributing to overweight and obesity among school children aged 6 to 18 years. These interventions should include curriculum-embedded education about healthy eating and physical activity, fostering an environment that promotes healthy food choices and regular exercise, and incorporating behavioral modification strategies.Keywords: overweight, obesity, risk factors, school children, scoping review

The prevalence of myopia in school-age children has increased dramatically year by year. Myopia is an impact on academic achievement, and blindness, and increases the economic burden. The research objective was to analyze the prevalence of myopia and its relationship with demographic characteristics (age and gender) in school-age children. This study was a cross-sectional design. The respondents were male (M), female (F), and school-age children (aged 6-19 years). The total subjects were 1171 school students, Elementary Schools (n=661; M=326, F=335), Junior High Schools (n=307; M=138, F=169), and High Schools (n=203; M=84, F=119). Data analysis was descriptive and chi-square tests (p

PurposeRecent studies have shown that physical activity (PA) levels are low among children and adolescents globally. In order to reverse this trend, PA interventions are increasingly favoured. The school setting is the ideal place to address the issues that many children face. The purpose of this study was to (a) The primary focus of this study is to delve into the mediating role played by school-based rope skipping sports participation (SRSP) in the connection between social support and moderate to high-intensity physical activity (MVPA) among school children. (b) Additionally, this research aims to examine the moderating effect of within this pathway.MethodsWe conducted a survey involving 721 adolescents residing in Changsha City. The participants’ ages ranged from 8 to 12 years, with an average age of 9.84 ± 1.535 years. Out of these participants, 406 were boys, and 315 were girls. To assess variables such as social support and autonomous motivation, we employed standardized measurement scales. Subsequently, we analyzed the collected data using various statistical methods, including independent s-amples t-tests, bivariate correlation analysis, descriptive statistical analysis, structural equation modeling (SEM), and the Johnson-Neyman method.ResultsAn independent samples t-test revealed a statistically significant difference in MVPA between genders (p = 0.003

School sports are beneficial to schools, communities and society as a whole in that they can prevent delinquent behaviours, force commitment to rules, promote social control and teach societal/school values, among others. Deriving these benefits of school sports requires the optimal performance of school sports managers, who teach physical and health education (PHE) as a subject, games masters, house masters, head teachers and seconded school coaches. In this literature review, the JD-R theory was used to explore the literature regarding several potential job demands and job resources within the school sports management environment and how these can be matched for the optimum performance and productivity of school sports managers. It was established that there is a need to identify all possible physical, psychological, social or organizational demands and resources in school sports management to achieve optimal performance in school sports management. The JD-R literature suggests that organizations need to offer employees sufficient job challenges and resources, including feedback, social support, and skill variety, for optimal productivity.

IntroductionThe COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted the daily routines of children, with social distancing and quarantine leading to reduced social interactions and potential increased conflicts within families. These factors can increase the risk for anxiety and depression while reducing overall quality of life.MethodsOur study included 1843 school children aged 8 to 12 from 56 schools over a 2.5-year period before and during the pandemic. This multi-wave cross-sectional study utilized baseline data from an optimization trial of an indicated preventive intervention. The main outcomes were self-reported symptoms of anxiety and depression, and quality of life was the secondary outcome measure. Furthermore, responses to COVID-relevant questions were measured using a self-composed scale. Our objectives were to compare anxiety and depression symptom levels between cohorts of children who participated in the study before and during the pandemic, to examine if anxiety or depression predicted the COVID response, and whether anxiety and depression and subtypes of anxiety had an impact on quality of life during the pandemic. Linear regression and interaction models were used to examine relevant associations.ResultsLevels of anxiety and depression were higher in all waves compared to pre-pandemic levels. Quality of life was lower during the pandemic than before the pandemic, particularly among children with generalized anxiety symptoms. Quality of life was negatively associated with loneliness.DiscussionOur study revealed that children reported higher anxious and depressive symptoms during the pandemic compared to pre-pandemic levels, as well as reduced quality of life. Lockdowns and restrictions may have contributed to this burden. Additionally, self-reported loneliness was a significant possible consequence of the restrictive measures imposed on children during the pandemic. Additional research is needed to investigate the long-term effects of the pandemic on children, particularly regarding the stability of elevated levels of anxiety and depression. Such studies could examine whether these conditions are indicative of a trajectory toward more severe internalizing disorders.Clinical trial registration: NCT04263558.

Background The purpose of the study was to examine the relationship between parent involvement and academic achievements of primary pupils in Kole North County, Kole District. Methodology The study was a descriptive, correlational, and cross-sectional survey research design. Further, it was both quantitative and qualitative. The study used 32 head teachers of primary schools in Kole North County, Kole District as the respondents of this study. Results The findings revealed that 87% of the respondents were males and 13% of the respondents were females. Also, 59.4% of the respondents were aged 41-50 years, 28.1% of the respondents were aged 51-60 years and 12.5% of the respondents were aged 31- 40 years. The correlation between parents’ discussions with pupils and their academic performance in a secondary school within Kole North County was 0.843 with a sig value of 0.001. The correlation between parents’ attendance of school programs and completion of primary education by primary pupils was 0.411 with a sig. value of 0.018. This indicates a positive significant relationship between parents’ attendance of school programs and completion of primary education by primary pupils in North Kole County. Conclusions The education level of parents and parents’ involvement in providing scholastic materials and attending school programs contributes to the academic achievements of their children in Kole North County. Recommendations Parents should strive hard to provide school requirements in time to avoid sending students home as well as lack of scholastic materials. Parents should also do extra coaching of the children using a private tutor to help their children excel with better grades.

Abstract Background One of the major roadblocks to the falciparum malaria elimination programme is the presence of a portion of the population, such as school children, with asymptomatic malaria infection. Targeting such reservoirs of infections is critical to interrupting transmission and enhancing elimination efforts. The NxTek™ Eliminate Malaria Pf test is a highly sensitive rapid diagnostic test (hsRDT) for the detection of HRP-2. However, knowledge gaps exist in Ethiopia on the diagnostic performance of hsRDT for the detection of Plasmodium falciparum in school children with asymptomatic malaria. Methods A school-based cross-sectional study was conducted from September 2021 to January 2022 on 994 healthy school children (aged 6–15 years). Finger-pricked whole blood samples were collected for microscopy, hsRDT, conventional RDT (cRDT or SD Bioline Malaria Ag Pf/P.v), and QuantStudio™ 3 Real—Time PCR system (qPCR). The hsRDT was compared to cRDT and microscopy. qPCR and microscopy were used as reference methods. Results The prevalence of Plasmodium falciparum was 1.51%, 2.2%. 2.2% and 4.52%, by microscopy, hsRDT, cRDT and qPCR, respectively. Using qPCR as reference, the sensitivity of hsRDT was higher (48.89%) than the microscopy (33.3%), and showed 100% specificity and a positive predictive value (PPV). Microscopy showed similar specificity and PPV as hsRDT. Using microscopy as a reference, the diagnostic perforrmances of both hsRDT and cRDT were similar. Both RDTs demonstrated identical diagnostic performances in both comparison methods. Conclusions hsRDT has the same diagnostic performance as cRDT but improved diagnostic characteristics than microscopy for detection of P. falciparum in school children with asymptomatic malaria. It can be a useful tool for the national malaria elimination plan of Ethiopia.

This study aimed to investigate the impact of an 8-week aerobic dance intervention on postural balance in children. Forty-one children, aged 9 to 11, were randomly assigned to either an aerobic dance group (ADG) or a control group (CG) from a primary school. Postural balance was assessed using center of pressure (CoP) excursions before and after the 8-week intervention period. Evaluations were conducted on both firm and foam surfaces in bipedal and unipedal stances under open-eyes (OE) and closed-eyes (CE) conditions, as well as on both medial–lateral (ML) and anterior–posterior (AP) surfaces in a bipedal stance under OE conditions. The ADG exhibited significantly decreased CoPVm values during firm bipedal CE, unipedal OE, foam bipedal OE and CE, and foam unipedal OE (p < 0.005). This study suggests that aerobic dance intervention improved postural balance in children, showcasing adaptability and improved stability under various conditions.

BACKGROUND: According to the World Health Organization, there is an explosion in the use of electronic devices, the internet, and gaming platforms. In many countries, it is a significant public health concern, prompting calls to identify adequate public policy. We aimed to investigate the prevalence of internet addiction (IA) among high school students and to assess the relationship between the internet addiction level of high school students and their demographic features with internet use. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 424 high school children studying in eighth standard–tenth standard. Among 121 public and private high schools listed by the BEO (Block Education Officer) Office in Kolar Taluk four high schools were selected by lottery method from July 2021 to August 2021. The Internet Addiction Test (IAT) by Young was used to assess the intensity of internet usage. RESULTS: The mean IAT score of study participants was 29.6. The mean age of the study population was 14.4 ± 0.84 years. The odds of internet addiction among female students were 4.5 times higher than among male students. The majority (91.5%) of the students had used the internet for educational purpose and the other common reasons for internet usage is social media (43%), entertainment (43%), and gaming purpose (21%). CONCLUSION: The prevalence of IA among high school students is 14.6% with the moderate-risk population was 12.5% and the high-risk population was 2.1%. Students using the internet for both academic and non-academic purposes were more internet addicted. The real challenge is to have control over the usage of social sites—the amount of time being spent and the type of activities adolescents are doing online.

Purpose: This review systematically summarizes the studies of the relationship between primary-to-secondary school students’ motor skills and academic achievement, and analyzes the relationship between gross and fine motor skills and performance in different subjects. Method: Five electronic databases, Web Of Science, PubMed, PsycINFO, SPORTDiscus, and Academic Search Premier, were searched in March 2023. Semi-quantitative assessment methods were used to analyze the results of the included studies. Results: Seventy-eight articles were included in this systematic review. The semi-quantitative assessment results showed that gross (+, 65.0/62.5%) and fine motor skills (+, 83.3/80%) were positively correlated with overall performance and language performance, with ≥60% of the associations in the same direction. For different subjects, fine motor skills were positively correlated with students’ mathematics (+, 75.0%), reading (+, 72.7%), writing (+, 66.7%), and spelling (+, 60.0%) scores. However, the association between gross motor skills and students’ mathematics achievement (?, 52.8%), reading (?, 53.8%), and spelling (?, 50.0%) is uncertain, with

Background: The inability to focus light onto the retina, known as refractive error, is a significant cause of correctable visual impairment. Unfortunately, students' ocular complaints often go unnoticed due to a lack of awareness. To address this issue, a questionnaire with high sensitivity and reasonable specificity was developed for teachers to identify students with refractive error. Methods: A questionnaire with surrogate indicators for refractive error in children was used and the data was analysed using SPSS. Significant markers were scored and a ROC curve determined a suitable cut-off. Sensitivity and specificity were calculated based on this cut-off. Results: The questionnaire was developed using five variables that had a 65% probability of identifying refractive error, including copying errors, copying from peers, eye squeezing, previous use of glasses, and eye deviation. A cut-off score of 5.5 out of 14 achieved 90% sensitivity and 50% specificity in detecting refractive errors. Conclusion: This study created a tool with five markers that demonstrated good internal consistency and content validity, it had an average sensitivity and specificity of 84% and 63%, respectively. The tool is twice as likely to identify someone with refractive error than someone without it.

IntroductionGood physical fitness is the foundation of a healthy lifestyle. For students, the school becomes the main place to improve their physical fitness. The traditional physical education class places little emphasis on improving physical fitness and students’ physical fitness have continued to decline. To address these challenges, this study aimed to design and develop a functional training program that can be incorporated into existing physical education lessons to improve students’ physical fitness levels.MethodsThis study adopted the instructional design framework of the Analysis, Design, Development, Implementation, Evaluation (ADDIE) model to guide the design and development of the functional training program. After development, the program was implemented and evaluated.ResultsThe results showed the program aroused students’ interest and significantly improved students’ physical fitness.ConclusionThis study showed the usefulness of functional training in improving the physical fitness of primary school students. In addition, it provided a reference for how to use functional training in conjunction with the physical education syllabus.

IntroductionLeprosy, an infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae, remains a public health concern in endemic countries, particularly in Brazil. In this study, we conducted an active surveillance campaign in the hyperendemic city of Castanhal in the northeastern part of the state of Pará using clinical signs and symptoms combined with serological and molecular tools to diagnose new cases and to identify drug resistance of circulating M. leprae strains and their distribution in the community.MethodsDuring an active surveillance of one week, we enrolled 318 individuals using three different strategies to enroll subjects for this study: (i) an active survey of previously treated cases from 2006 to 2016 found in the Brazil National Notifiable Disease Information System database (n = 23) and their healthy household contacts (HHC) (n = 57); (ii) an active survey of school children (SC) from two primary public schools in low-income neighborhoods (n = 178), followed by visits to the houses of these newly diagnosed SC (n = 7) to examine their HHC (n = 34) where we diagnosed additional new cases (n = 6); (iii) and those people who spontaneously presented themselves to our team or the local health center with clinical signs and/or symptoms of leprosy (n = 6) with subsequent follow-up of their HHC when the case was confirmed (n = 20) where we diagnosed two additional cases (n = 2). Individuals received a dermato-neurological examination, 5 ml of peripheral blood was collected to assess the anti-PGL-I titer by ELISA and intradermal earlobe skin scrapings were taken from HHC and cases for amplification of the M. leprae RLEP region by qPCR.ResultsAnti-PGL-I positivity was highest in the new leprosy case group (52%) followed by the treated group (40.9%), HHC (40%) and lowest in SC (24.6%). RLEP qPCR from SSS was performed on 124 individuals, 22 in treated cases, 24 in newly diagnosed leprosy cases, and 78 in HHC. We detected 29.0% (36/124) positivity overall in this sample set. The positivity in treated cases was 31.8% (7/22), while in newly diagnosed leprosy cases the number of positives were higher, 45.8% (11/23) and lower in HHC at 23.7% (18/76). Whole genome sequencing of M. leprae from biopsies of three infected individuals from one extended family revealed a hypermutated M. leprae strain in an unusual case of primary drug resistance while the other two strains were drug sensitive.DiscussionThis study represents the extent of leprosy in an active surveillance campaign during a single week in the city of Castanhal, a city that we have previously surveyed several times during the past ten years. Our results indicate the continuing high transmission of leprosy that includes fairly high rates of new cases detected in children indicating recent spread by multiple foci of infection in the community. An unusual case of a hypermutated M. leprae strain in a case of primary drug resistance was discovered. It also revealed a high hidden prevalence of overt disease and subclinical infection that remains a challenge for correct clinical diagnosis by signs and symptoms that may be aided using adjunct laboratory tests, such as RLEP qPCR and anti-PGL-I serology.