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The 2017 general comment (GC21) to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) on children in street situations, provides a framework of legal guidance for governments developing policies aimed at protecting street-connected children and sets up the rationale for more awareness raising and public education to counter negative and deficit attitudes towards street-connectedness. Within this framework, the media has a role to play in either challenging conceptualisations of street-connected children as out-of-place within the public and predominantly adult domain described by urban streets, or in reinforcing ideological constructions of citizenship and normalised notions of childhood that result in negative stereotypes of these children. GC21 recommends that interventions targeted at street-connected children should be ethically responsible -- adopting child rights approaches aimed at using accurate data/evidence that upholds the dignity of children, their personal integrity, and their right to life. As such, these approaches should also extend to how organisations engage with and utilise the media to represent street-connected children. Focusing on media representations of street-connected children during the six pandemic-affected months of February to July 2020, this paper provides a review of the content of the sources to provide an insight into the structural barriers that face street-connected children because of how they are positioned in society, during the pandemic and in general, and the extent to which the media reinforces or counters the rescue or removal narratives that can lead to inappropriate intervention responses.

The health and well-being of older parents, especially in low and middle-income countries (LMICs) like India, depend on adult children. As such, using the 2017-18 wave 1 of the Longitudinal Aging Study in India (LASI), we examined (1) the association between adult children's education and older parents' cognitive health in India; (2) the extent to which this association is mediated by (a) parents' empowered status and (b) their active engagement; and (3) whether the associations between (1) and (2) vary for older men and women. Findings reveal that adult children's education was, indeed, positively associated with older parents' cognitive health, and this association was significantly stronger for older mothers. The educational attainment of adult daughters was found to have a relatively stronger association with the cognitive functioning of older parents, particularly their older mothers, compared to their male counterparts. We also found that parents of well-educated children were more empowered and mentally and physically engaged, both factors linked to better cognitive functioning. These findings highlight that educating even one child beyond the 'compulsory' secondary education proves consequential not just for the child but for parents in later life. Given the considerable generational disparities in educational attainment and the proportion of joint families in the country, older Indians may be particularly well-situated to reap the cognitive health dividends of educating the next generation.

Background: Most health and developmental issues affecting young people are interrelated. However, few interventions address multiple behavioral domains simultaneously or are based on theories that encompass a holistic perspective of youth development. Aim: The purpose of this scoping review was to identify and describe the range of theory-based, multibehavioral health interventions aimed at improving two or more of the following behavioral youth outcomes: (1) sexual and reproductive health; (2) education and employment; (3) violence; and (4) substance use. Methods: Interventions conducted worldwide and published in English or Spanish between January 2000 and July 2020 were identified using four databases: PubMed, PsycINFO, LILACS, and SciELO. Results: A total of 11,084 articles were identified, of which 477 were retrieved and assessed for eligibility. Twenty-three articles (evaluating 21 interventions) ultimately met the inclusion criteria. Most interventions were conducted in the United States and addressed two behavioral domains of interest, although seven interventions incorporated three domains, and one incorporated all four. Substance use was the most common domain (16 interventions) but only in the United States/Canada, followed by sexual and reproductive health (14 interventions). All produced significant improvement in at least one outcome or for at least one subgroup of youth. The most common theoretical foundations were positive youth development and social learning theory. Conclusion: Integrated interventions that are theory based and evidence informed can support positive development and empower youth to make healthy decisions. Further efforts are needed to address structural and policy issues that affect young people's developmental opportunities and health outcomes.

Researching with the Bharia in Central India was a rare opportunity as it is perhaps the only tribal community in the region who are not dispossessed from their habitat in Madhya Pradesh, the Indian province with the largest number of tribal people. Dominant debates rarely take cognisance of the perceptions of the tribal communities. The article tries to map the Bharia voices, their worldview and knowledge that counter the processes of hegemony thrust upon them by the state, the market and non-state players.

This article examines the role of the arts in education through a detailed sharing of a research project, Hum Hindustani, on children and citizenship. Using examples of work co-created with children in art workshops for the project, the article offers an understanding of the place of the arts in the classroom to provoke a larger conversation that can lead to meaningful ways of engaging with children. It looks at questions of children's voice, authenticity and positionality to argue for a reflexive teaching practice that can challenge pedagogies that emphasise tests and results, and instead allow for the development of the whole individual.

This paper studies mathematics learning gaps within Indian children at two points in time. Dividing them into two groups, better performing and the rest, we investigate the causes of the difference in the average learning gap between them at those two points. We explore this question using the threefold Blinder-Oaxaca decomposition at these survey points (collected over a gap of four years). We find that when the children were younger the private schooling effect was the core contributor towards this learning gap. When these children got older, the effect vanished and the gap in average years of schooling, which has magnified during this time between these groups of children, contributes most to this learning gap.

Academically gifted students or high potential learners don't feel challenged in regular classrooms. Teachers in schools are also not quipped with pedagogical interventions to meet the advanced learning needs of gifted students. Mentoring is considered an effective method to guide, motivate and optimize learning abilities of gifted students. The present paper discusses the process of developing a mentoring program for 32 gifted students in Science and Math who were selected through a two-tier identification process. Students were selected from three different locations in India and were invited to attend residential mentoring program in University of Delhi, Delhi. Students were administered Wechsler Intelligence Test (WISC) IV, Test of Intelligence and were closely observed during the mentoring session. Statistic analysis of WISC IV composite score and composite observation score indicated high positive correlation between the two scores and 93.75% students scored in top three categories of intelligence as specified in WISC IV score interpretation norm. Detailed qualitative analysis also helped to develop both learning profiles and a specific mentoring program for individual students.

This study aims at comparatively identifying the constitutional provisions for right to education, their implementation and impact on education in India and Nepal. This is an analytical descriptive study based on document analysis. By the mid of 2011, 81% constitutions of the world guaranteed or aspired to protect the right to primary education. Nepal and India both have clear constitutional provisions for right to free and compulsory basic education but are unable to fulfil the international and national educational commi tments and goals. India and Nepal fall in 2nd and 48th rank respectively based on population in the world in 2018. However, educational indicators indicate that both the countries could not ensure the educational access to all the children. In the year 2014-15, 22.131 million children were either not enrolled or did not complete primary education in India. This number was 270 958 in Nepal in the same year. Results show that there is a wide gap between the educational policies and their actual implementation in India and Nepal.

This study examined the impact of iPad integration on student motivation, engagement, and learning skills in a mathematics program. Subjects included 143 students aged 8 to 14 years old and 63 parents in an Indian-based school in Dubai where the national curriculum required the use of tablets be integrated into school subjects starting at grade three. All subjects responded to questions about how iPads could support learning math and the kind of challenges students faced. Classes were technology-driven using individualized learning groups and a variety of computer apps. Around 80 percent of the students indicated they understood new concepts better, were able to solve difficult math problems, and expected themselves to score better on their tests. It was found that providing instant access to a wide array of applications, resources, hands-on activities, and instant feedback can engage students and help them remain on task, especially those with special educational needs.

The lack of research exploring the influence of dynamic visual narratives on inference skills prompted the present study with an aim to profile the inference skills in school children between the ages of 6 years and 9 years 11 months using dynamic visual narratives. A total of 80 participants were considered for the study. An animated story was designed as the dynamic visual narrative stimuli based on which an "inference task" was formulated, which included forced-choice questions and free-response questions. The responses of the forced-choice questions were analyzed quantitatively using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), while the responses from the free-response questions were analyzed qualitatively. The results revealed an increase in inference skills with age, with children using less seductive details, beginning to display inductive inference, and providing multiple inferences. The inference profiles obtained from the study can serve as evidence for the development of bridging inference skills from dynamic visual narratives in children.

The work of school counsellors has become complex with the increasing technological advances and adolescents' dependency on them. There is a surprising lack of study in the Indian context, aimed at school counsellor's challenges in dealing with adolescents' digital use. This paper provides better understanding of the challenges of school counsellors involving adolescents' digital use in Indian schools. Three significant themes emerged from the data analysis: (a) negative aspects of digital use among Indian adolescents, (b) the need to effectively teach how to navigate the digital world and (c) the challenge of integrating technology with traditional counselling approaches to educate adolescents about their digital use. Furthermore, this paper presents implications for school counselling practice and research within Indian context.

Identifying the determinants of positive coping is a critical step in empowering the parents of children with intellectual disability. In this context, this study aims to develop a scale to assess the determinants of positive coping. Accordingly, culturally relevant items were pooled, got validated by experts and refined. The scale was administered to 150 parents of children with intellectual disability. Factor analysis done through polychoric correlation helped reduce the items. Cronbach's alpha coefficients were established for reliability testing. The validity of the new scale was examined with the subjective wellbeing on a visual analogue scale and Family Interview for Stress and Coping in Mental Retardation. The new scale has a Cronbach's alpha of 0.71 and an intraclass correlation of 0.64. After factor analysis, 12 items were retained in the final version. This study also identified specific factors associated with positive coping. The new scale can be used with parents of children with intellectual disabilities to identify the determinants of positive coping.

The study explored the role of verbal fluency in determining reading and comprehension skills in Bengali among 10-year old typically developing Bengali children. Robust correlations were found between semantic fluency and word reading (0.63) as well as semantic fluency and comprehension (0.70). Good correlation was found between letter fluency and comprehension (0.49), and, word reading and comprehension (0.62). The findings suggest that good word storing capacity and executive functions led to enhanced automaticity of retrieval and verbal fluency, which together with improved orthographic and phonological processing led to good word reading scores, contributing to lesser cognitive load thereby easing out the complex text comprehension task. Transcending narrow empirical base of reading theories derived from Western writing typologies delimited to orthographic depth and psycholinguistic grain size, the study contends that verbal fluency is another interesting variable determining the reading and comprehension skills in Bengali along with visuo-spatial complexity and complex phonology-orthography inconsistencies.

Northeast India is located away from mainland India and has a poor connectivity with the mainland India. Many inhabitants of the region have sociocultural beliefs and practices that are different from the mainstream Hindu and Islamic culture. It has the highest under-five child mortality rate in India and diarrhea is the third leading cause of death among under-five children, previous studies reported low treatment-seeking for diarrhea in the region. The region is also very common in the practice of traditional health remedies. Practicing of traditional remedies is common in the remote and inaccessibility region. The purpose of this paper is to understand the predictors of women's practices in managing childhood diarrhea and the quality of diarrhea management practices by the source of care. The study is based on the unit level data from District Level Household Survey (DLHS-4) and 789 women age 15-49 years were analyze by applying logistic regression analysis to identify the potential predictors of diarrhea management. Continue normal breastfeeding during diarrhea decreases with increasing age of the mother. Seeking care from the government or private health care facilities increases the likelihood of the mother administering of Oral Rehydration Salt (ORS) or Zinc to a sick child. Appropriate diarrhea management practices were found to be associated with seeking care from government or private health facilities as compared to non-treatment seekers; inappropriate practices were observed among mothers who were agricultural workers. In order to improve the quality of diarrhea management practices among the non-treatment seekers, efforts should be made through the Intensified Diarrhea Control Fortnight (IDCF) program to create more awareness among mothers regarding prevention and effective and low-cost diarrhea treatments.

Introduction: Social skills are acquired primarily through imitation using the visual system. As a result, people with visual impairments may experience difficulties in this area at any age, which can have a major effect on their social participation and on their quality of life. The objective of this study was to systematically review the effects of targeted interventions on social skills in children and adolescents with visual impairments. Methods: A systematic literature search was performed using databases Web of Science, OvidSP, EBSCOhost, Sage Journals. The scientific quality of the studies was assessed using two scales dedicated to single case studies and group studies, respectively. Results: Out of 1866 hits, 32 studies were included in the review. A total of 397 children and adolescents with visual impairments (aged 3-20 years) received different types of social skills interventions. "Peer relation" interventions were most often studied (n = 21) and effects were mainly analyzed using observational tools. The scientific quality rating scales indicated moderate (for group studies) to high general quality (for single case studies). Overall, most studies reported improvements in targeted social skills. Discussion: Given the heterogeneity of the studies considered, both in content and in the measures used to document effects, these results should be interpreted with caution. Consequently, it is not clear which interventions should be recommended for use in practice such as in special education. Implications for Practitioners: Given the high rate of social skills difficulties reported in this population and the effect of these difficulties on all stages of development, it seems particularly relevant for practitioners to integrate social skills assessment and explicit teaching into intervention programs. In the future, researchers, stakeholders, and practitioners should work together to develop, implement, and evaluate evidence-based interventions for children and adolescents with visual impairments.

Objective: The study explored the impacts of restrictions on the perceived psychological distress and health outcomes in children by their mothers who acted as their full-time caregivers during the pan-India lockdown after the outbreak of COVID-19. Method: A narrative qualitative research design was used and a purposive heterogeneous sample of 20 mothers of children aged 9-11 years were chosen, who were in a full-time caregiving role. Data obtained through a telephonic semi-structured interview were analysed using Narrative Thematic Method. Results: Four themes were generated--aberrant social responsivity and loneliness, decreased interest in regular activities, psychological distress and defiant emotional responses, and negative health outcomes. Anxiety, irritation, quarrelsome behaviours, anger, frustration, feeling low, reduced interest in games, boredom, etc. were reported in children. Decreased appetite, sleep disturbances, complaints of indigestion and multiple complaints of body aches were major negative health outcomes. Conclusions: Mothers described a variety of psychological distress and health outcomes for children due to the extreme restrictions, uncertainty, apprehension, reduced positive engagement and lowered social connection after the outbreak of the pandemic. Family-, media-, school- and community-based real or virtual intervention programmes are recommended to minimize the negative impacts and to guard children against the ill-consequences of restrictions of current and future pandemics.

This ethnographic case study presents findings of an 18-month research study focusing on the ways in which families residing in an urban slum were using mobile phones and how this use supported literacy practices. Data collection included participant observations and interviews with 42 participants including parents, children and community members. Results of the data analysis indicated that in this urban slum, most participants owned a mobile phone which provided multiple entry points to learning. The phones ushered in new ways of brokering knowledge where children acted as 'experts' and enabled parents to perform everyday tasks while parents mediated as cultural brokers and fostered religious and cultural practices and knowledge of the mother tongue. The implications of the study point to the evolving nature of literacy practices, the versatility of the device, the uneven landscape of smartphone use and the limitations posed by the schooling contexts.

Typically developing children who grow up with siblings with disabilities often have numerous negative experiences owing to many factors such as parental differences in behaviour, lack of time & attention received and many others. This paper aims to analyse themes emerging from interviews with typically developing siblings, their parents and experts from the field of child development and child mental health regarding these experiences.

As social and emotional learning (SEL) initiatives gain traction in primary and secondary schools worldwide, research is needed to understand how schools can implement SEL in culturally responsive, strengths-based ways with children experiencing poverty. This study emerged from a university-non-profit partnership between the University of California, San Diego and the Akanksha Foundation in India. The purpose was to investigate school staff's perceptions of holistic youth development and SEL pedagogy at two Akanksha school sites. Data collection involved 51 surveys and 10 interviews conducted with Akanksha school staff. Researchers applied an equity literacy theoretical framework to centre non-deficit approaches to working with children and families experiencing poverty. Findings reveal that staff prioritised a holistic pedagogical approach to SEL that focused on parent engagement and youth leadership as strategies to resist and prevent social inequities. We conclude with recommendations for other global school leaders implementing SEL, such as prioritising authentic staff development, implementing culturally affirming practices, and developing positive relationships within the larger community.

Though several studies have been undertaken to explore the correlates of academic achievement, there is a dearth of studies relating to the cognitive profiles of children who show marked discrepancies between their cognitive potential and actual academic achievement. The present study was undertaken in this context. The study was conducted on a sample of 308 students in the age range of 12-16 years, drawn from different schools in Kerala, India. The participants belonged to four groups, that is, Underachievers, Normal achievers, Overachievers, and those with Specific Learning Disorders (SLD). WISC-IV India and Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT) were used for assessing cognitive functions. Results indicated that the SLD group could be discriminated from the other three groups in terms of Digit span, Letter-Number sequencing, Working Memory Index, and Processing Speed Index. Further, a retention score obtained from RAVLT could discriminate between the SLD and UA groups. Discriminant analysis of the variables resulted in the extraction of two significant functions composed of three variables of WISC and two variables of RAVLT. The results indicated that the different groups of scholastically backward children, though similar in their overall IQ, had distinct and characteristic cognitive profiles.

Background: Increasingly researchers are recognising the importance of including the perspectives of children and young people in research and in the development of interventions and innovations, in order to understand children's lives on their own terms. Purpose: This article reflects on the potential risks posed to children and young people in research and the role of gatekeepers in granting access and, in direct field activities, especially where the research could be deemed as 'sensitive'. Research Design: Using a combined descriptive and autoethnographic research design, questionnaires and reflections were gathered from the field experiences of researchers in four countries (India, Jamaica, Uganda and the UK) conducting research on children's experiences of violence victimisation as part of a gender-based violence prevention project. Data was collected retrospectively and analysed thematically with the aid of QSR NVivo. Results: Based on the five themes that emerged: accessing schools; approach to access; accessing participants; lessons learnt; and advice for other researchers, the overall findings indicate that researching sensitive topics with children and young people is necessarily problematic in order to safeguard them. This is especially the case in contexts where discrimination and stigma relating to certain topics may be a significant barrier to children's participation. Conclusion: Research planning requires attention to gatekeeper power, safeguarding children and young people, and understanding how processes and attitudes concerning the status and rights of children at national and institutional levels might influence the research process.

The "hole-in-the-wall" experiments of 1999, as named by the popular media, started with an Internet-connected computer being embedded in a wall facing a slum in Kalkaji, New Delhi, India. Several studies showed that groups of children, when given access to the Internet, can learn by themselves. Children's academic marks improved, and their interest in learning new things increased, resulting in a significant decrease in school dropouts and increase in school attendance. Soft skills, such as confidence, communication, and self-regulation improved. This article traces the history of this experiment, the formation of "hole-in-the-wall education" (HiWEL) as an organization, technological and pedagogical advances, and how this simple idea is touching the lives of millions of children.

Creating objects can increase our evaluation of them, even when we compare them to physically identical copies (IKEA effect). Here we evaluate the influence of collaboration on the IKEA effect in two societies--the United Kingdom and India. One hundred twenty-eight 5-to-6-year-old children (48% female, 50% British middle class, 50% Indian middle class) assembled toys in pairs. Half of the children collaborated to assemble a single toy and half assembled their own toy. In both societies, children demonstrated an IKEA effect (?2p = .19), valuing their own creation over an identical copy. This was the case regardless of whether children collaborated or worked independently. In summary, it seems that the IKEA effect is a potent bias that is present in diverse societies and is insensitive to others' contributions in a collaborative environment.

Preparing students with robust life skills, including social-emotional skills, is of paramount importance in today's world, particularly for children growing up in adversity. Dream a Dream was founded by 11 young people who wanted to engage with children who were terminally ill, abandoned, or HIV infected. The idea was to organize activities and games that would provide hope and happiness for these children. Over time, the team realized mere engagement could never be the solution for deep-rooted adversities. This article examines the organization.

Parenting is regarded as the most amazing experience a person can have, and it is true to say that parents are essential in assisting children in growing and developing to the fullest extent possible. However, the most beautiful phase may become challenging if the child deviates from normalcy. Speaking of children with disabilities, parents of children with disabilities experience such social, psychological, emotional, and physical disturbances in life as their children strongly rely on them for their fundamental needs such as food, life skills, special education, safety, and care, etc. Worry, anxiety, despair, overprotection, rejection, and self-blame are all typical feelings for parents when they discover their child's condition. They are found to be frequently struggling with social situations as well. In such a condition, how can a parent be expected to have both balanced psychological well-being and a healthy parenting style? In order to highlight the importance of the delivery of appropriate interventions at the right moment to support parents in need, the researchers felt the need to conduct a study related to the dimensions and mental health status of parents of children with disabilities. For this study, a sample of 50 parents having children with disabilities (CwDs) and 50 parents having children without any disability (Cw/oDs) was prepared. The Mithila Mental Health Status Inventory was used to gather the data from the sample taken from Delhi, India. The hypothesis was framed and tested through descriptive and inferential statistical tools. In the end, the findings revealed that there was emotional instability, alienation, and egocentrism among parents of CwDs, and it was ultimately determined that the mental health of the parents of CwDs was poor. The mental health of parents of Cw/oDs was estimated to be average, with low levels of social alienation, emotional instability, and emotional nonconformity. Additionally, there was a statistically significant difference between the mental health of CwD parents and Cw/oD parents. The study proposes that since a parent's mental health directly affects how they parent their child, practitioners who work with families of CwDs must inquire about the mental strength of the parents and offer advice on coping mechanisms in order to reduce the stress levels of the parents. The good mental health of the parent is directly related to the quality of life of the entire family.

With the recent advances in learning technologies, researchers are exploring the benefits of touch-based applications to reinforce handwriting skills in children with writing difficulties. One of the reasons for writing difficulties is the lack of fine motor skills. Hence, an Android application was developed for children with writing difficulties to enhance their hand dexterity. It has six activities for improving hand-eye coordination, spatial organisation, and pencil/pen grip in children. The design of all these activities is based on the oscillation theory of handwriting. This paper explains the usability evaluation of this Android app and how improvements have been made in the application based on the user feedback. Ten participants have evaluated the initial prototypes in five iterations and the final product was built by considering their feedback. The study shows that the user evaluation approach is effective in identifying the usability issues and in improving the user interfaces and also the functionalities of the software application. From our experience, we suggest that including user researchers and ET researchers along with children in the usability evaluation process is beneficial, especially when the educational software users are children below 15 years of age.

Purpose: This article aims to explore the meanings of positionality and demonstrate how reflective memos can illustrate positionality in a constructivist grounded theory (CGT) study. Design/methodology/approach: Acknowledging the positionality of the researcher through a reflective approach is an essential element of CGT studies. The first author (IS) used reflective memoing in her CGT study on Indian immigrant children's asthma to practice reflexivity and make her positionality explicit. Through memos, IS acknowledges her knowledge, beliefs, practices, experience and pre-existing assumptions about the research topic. This article is a compilation of the reflective memos that IS wrote during the initial phase of her research and draws on her motivations as they relate to the topic under study in the context of current literature. Findings: The reflective accounts of a researcher's background and experience can act as a lens for understanding the research question and the choice of methodology. Practical implications: This article may be useful to novice qualitative researchers who are struggling to define and establish their own positionality. John Dewey's and David Schon's works on reflective thinking serve as valuable tools to practice reflexivity. Philosophically underpinned reflections in the form of memos, employed from the outset and throughout the study, can enhance the study rigour by making research decisions transparent. Originality/value: This article provides practical guidance on how to outline positionality at the outset of a CGT study.

Background: Dental neglect results in dental caries, gum disease, and contributes to chronic diseases such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and cancers. Poor oral health habits developed in childhood persist into adulthood and can contribute to chronic diseases. School settings are a practical platform for teaching oral health skills. Purpose: The purpose was to assess the effectiveness of school-based, primary prevention oral health interventions for children and adolescents and to examine these programs for health behavior theory applications. Methods: The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Statement and Checklist was used in reporting systematic review data. EBSCOhost database was utilized to search interventions by applying inclusion criteria. Data extraction occurred in four distinct phases to ensure all examined interventions met acceptable standards. Results: Eight interventions satisfied the inclusion criteria. Each study utilized oral health knowledge as an outcome variable. Two of the eight interventions stated that they utilized a specific health behavior theoretical framework. Each study applied health behavior concepts. Interventions were efficacious for improving oral health knowledge. Translation to Health Education Practice: Oral health education interventions in schools appear to be effective in providing dental skills and oral health knowledge.

The day-to-day environment surrounding the child influences its physical, social, and emotional wellbeing. The study was conducted to understand how the perception of children and their parents about the outdoor play spaces influences their outdoor participation. Face-to-face interviews with parents, a walk-along interview with children and audit of public open space were conducted in different neighbourhoods in the city of Pune (India) which differed in social and spatial characteristics. This paper suggests a conceptual framework that defines the setting of participation and factors influencing the motivation of participation in the outdoor environment. The quantitative study of parents' interviews and qualitative analysis of children's sketches highlight different aspects like play and mobility range, open space visitation, activities of children, spatial qualities of the open space and perception of children and their parents. The findings brought forth difference in parents and children's perception of risk in open spaces.

This study was conducted to explore the experiences of educators with mealtime behaviours of children with a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) in schools, and to explore the strategies undertaken in schools to improve nutrition among these children. In-depth interviews were conducted with 13 educators of various special schools across Mumbai. They described their experiences with 3-11 year-old children with a diagnosis of ASD. Four themes emerged from this study: reasons for disruptive mealtime behaviours, using mealtimes as opportunities for indirect learning, strategies used to avoid disruptive mealtime behaviours, and school policies regarding food and nutrition. The presence of sensory stressors, changes in break-time schedules, and inability to communicate hunger were identified as main reasons for disruptive mealtime behaviours in the classroom. Strategies to tackle these behaviours were discussed. Most educators reported that their school followed a strict 'no junk-food' policy. The perspective of educators is important to understand the mealtime behaviours of children with ASD in school settings. The initiatives taken at the school-level are valuable as they provide a different approach and diverse strategies that may work to improve the food intake and nutrition of children with ASD.

Globally, access to higher education has increased, but inequalities by socio-economic background remain. This article explores the relationship between early schooling opportunities (and learning) and progression into higher education in four low and middle-income countries. We analyse data from the Young Lives longitudinal study, following cohorts of young people from age 5 to 22 in four country settings: Ethiopia, Peru, Vietnam and India. We reveal wide variability in higher education participation between the four countries, with a common pattern of a very strong association between early learning and later higher education participation, even after allowing for a range of demographic characteristics. Whilst early learning is important in predicting later higher education participation, we also find that significant barriers to higher education participation remain for low socio-economic status groups, even if they initially show good levels of learning. We track the trajectories of children who have initial good levels of learning, and hence arguably the potential to progress to higher education, and assess the extent to which socio-economic background plays a mediating role in these trajectories. Pupils with initially good levels of learning at primary school age, but who are from poor backgrounds, fall back in terms of their relative attainment during secondary schooling years. This implies that socio-economic status continues to be a barrier to educational attainment throughout these children's lives. We discuss the implications of these findings for policy initiatives aimed at narrowing inequalities in higher education access in poorer countries.

Rash and fever are some of the most common chief complaints present in paediatric dermatology emergencies. The spectrum of differential diagnosis is broad, including many different infectious and some non-infectious agents. A systematic approach involving detailed history taking, careful clinical examination along with particular attention to epidemiological features are the most important factors to make a diagnosis. This article reviews the morphological patterns of various causes of fever with rash in children, including infectious as well as non-infectious causes, with special emphasis on the Indian scenario. We intend to highlight the clinical characteristics of each cause, which will not only help make a clinical diagnosis but also distinguish benign versus life-threatening causes of skin rash in febrile paediatric patients and provide early medical intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Background: Childhood obesity (5–9 years) in India is likely to contribute 11% to the global burden by 2030. Methods: Data from India's Comprehensive National Nutrition Survey (CNNS, 2016–2018) was used to assess the prevalence and key associated factors of overweight and obesity. Multivariable logistic regression models were applied to identify potential determinants associated with being overweight and obese. Results: Overweight prevalence (including obesity) varied from 1.6% (0–4 years) to 4.8% (10–19 years). The majority of states reported a higher proportion of adolescents overweight and obese, than younger age group 5–9 years. A significantly higher prevalence of children and adolescents with obesity was reported in higher wealth quintiles and residents of urban areas. The prevalence of overweight and obesity and associated demographic and health factors in India included: the presence of NCD risk factor (adolescents: 1.68, 95% CI [1.31–2.14]), micronutrient deficiency (5–9 years children: 1.72, 95% CI [1.30–2.28]), mother's education (5–9 years children: 4.84, 95% CI [2.92–8.03]; adolescents: 2.17, 95% CI [1.42–3.32]), wealth (adolescents: 1.92, 95% CI [1.16–3.19]), place of residence (5–9 years children: 1.68, 95% CI [1.39–2.03]; adolescents: 1.39, 95% CI [1.16–1.66]), child age (5–9 years children: 1.64, 95% CI [1.40–1.93], and screen‐time (adolescents: 1.63, 95% CI [1.22–2.19]. Conclusion: The findings set out policy and research recommendations to pave the path for curtailing the increasing prevalence of overweight and obesity and achieving the World Health Assembly's Global Nutrition target of 'no increase in childhood overweight (Target 4) by 2025'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Children and adolescents living with HIV (CALHIV) encounters compromised health and well-being especially in developing countries. Understanding the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of CALHIV living in India is vital in planning and developing comprehensive care approach. A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted to explore and examine the HRQOL of CALHIV in India. Five electronic databases were searched, retrieving 2,729 citations with a final eight studies that met the inclusion criteria. Methodological quality was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) critical appraisal tools. The included studies predominantly evaluated quality of life using the Paediatric Quality of Life Inventory, with a mean self-reported HRQOL score of 77.62 (95% CI 72.91–82.34, I2 = 93%). HRQOL of CALHIV observed to be better than other chronically ill children. However, CALHIV demonstrated lower HRQOL than the matched general population. Younger age children and boys reported better HRQOL. Poor socio-economic status, immunological status and advanced clinical stages noted to be adversely affecting HRQOL. HRQOL of children reared in institutional care reported to better or in par with family reared children. The review highlights the sparse evidence investigating the HRQOL of children with HIV in India, and the need for further well-designed studies in this population. A population-specific holistic-care approach recommended to be benefiting the well-being of CALHIV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The practice of women eating after men is a common gender-inequitable food allocation mechanism among adults in Indian households and has been associated with poor health and nutritional outcomes for women. However, empirical evidence on whether a similar practice of girls eating after boys is prevalent among children is scarce. Using primary data from a household survey conducted in educationally backward areas of four Indian states, we provide new evidence of this practice among children. Almost 28 per cent of the sample households follow the mealtime custom of girls eating after boys. Scheduled Tribes and households with higher incomes are less likely to follow this practice. Other relevant factors include children's relative ages by sex and an interplay between family size and children's sex composition. While our findings may not be generalizable, they suggest an intersectionality between gender and other dimensions of inequality, namely social identity and economic class. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pandemic compelled more exposure to online media in different forms like online education, interactions, gaming, and collaboration, which aggravated the cyberbullying issue. Cyberbullying can now occur in several different mediums due to the renewed lifestyle challenges spawned by the pandemic. Hence, it is imperative to assess the antecedents of cyberbullying behaviour (CBB). General Strain Theory (GST) is taken as a grounded theory to understand the underlying mechanisms of strain and anger and their impact on deviant outcomes like CBB. The current study adds to the GST literature by investigating the association between stress and anger, leading to cyberbullying behaviour. The study also examines the extent to which parenting factors (monitoring, communication, and trust) moderate adolescents' involvement in cyberbullying. An online survey was used to collect data from 221 high school Indian students for this purpose. As per the results, there is a direct relationship between strain, anger, and cyberbullying. The study confirms an indirect relationship between strain and cyberbullying through anger. The findings suggest that parental influences are important in moderating the relationship between strain and anger in adolescent cyberbullying behaviour. The study recommends strategies for parents, educators, and healthcare providers when dealing with cyberbullying behaviour. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Artificial intelligence (AI)-based applications for the assessment of the paediatric musculoskeletal system like BoneXpert are not only useful to assess bone age (BA) but also to provide a bone health index (BHI) and a standard deviation score (SDS) for both. This allows comparison of the BHI with age- and sex-matched healthy Caucasian children. Objective: We conducted this study with the objective of generating BHI curves using BoneXpert in healthy Indian children with BA between 2 and 17 years. Method: We retrospectively reviewed anthropometric parameters, BHI, and BHI SDS data of digitalized left-hand radiographs (joint photographic experts group [jpg] format) of a cohort of 788 paediatric patients from a previous study to which they were recruited to compare various methods of BA assessment. The recruited children represented all age groups for both sexes. The corrected BHI for jpg images was calculated using the formula corrected BHI=BHI*(stature/(avL*50))^0.33333 where stature is height of subject and avL is average length of metacarpal bones. The reference Indian BHI curves and centiles were generated using the Lambda-Mu-Sigma method. Result: The mean BHI and BHI SDS of the study group were 4.02±0.57 and −1.73±1.09, respectively. The average increase in median BHI from each age group was between 2.5% and 3% in both sexes up to age of 14 years after which it increased to 4.5% to 5%. The mean BHI of Indian children was lower than that of Caucasian children with maximum differences noted in boys at 16 years (21.7%) and girls at 14 years (16%). We report 8.4% SD of BHI for our study sample. Reference percentile curves for BHI according to BA were derived separately for boys and girls. Conclusion: Reference data has been provided for the screening of bone health status of Indian children and adolescents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Timely screening and surveillance of children for developmental delay and social–emotional learning difficulties are essential in Low- and Middle-Income Countries like India. Screening measures like the Parents' Evaluation of Developmental Status (PEDS) and Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) are considered suitable for India due to their low cost, easy accessibility, and no training requirement for administration. However, India lacks validated screening measures, and the PEDS and SDQ have yet to be validated for children in India. The study aimed to translate the PEDS and SDQ from English to Hindi and psychometrically evaluate the same measures on children aged 4–8 years in India. The original PEDS and SDQ forms and their translations were pilot tested on 55 participants and evaluated using data from 407 children with typical development (TD) and 59 children with developmental disability (DD). Parents and teachers reported no meaningful discrepancy between the original and translated (Hindi) questionnaires. Internal consistency for the PEDS was acceptable, but unacceptable for most subscales on the SDQ, for both TD and DD samples. Test–retest reliability was poor for the PEDS but adequate for the SDQ. Results from known-group validity testing showed that the PEDS scores could be used to distinguish between the TD and DD samples. The results from this study provide further support for the use of the PEDS and SDQ in developing countries like India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Current national severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) vaccination policy covers children aged >12 years. Unvaccinated, uninfected children remain susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 and play a role in community transmission, as paediatric infection is mostly mild or asymptomatic. To estimate the proportion of susceptible children in a community for public health measures, there is a need to assess the extent of natural infection. We performed a cross-sectional household serosurvey of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in unvaccinated children aged between 6 and 18 years after the second COVID-19 wave. Anti-SARS-CoV-2 immunoglobin G (IgG) testing in serum was done using chemiluminescence immunoassay. We used a logistic regression model to investigate predicted factors of seropositivity. We observed a high prevalence (weighted average: 68.3%) of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG in 2700 enrolled children. Logistic regression for predictors of IgG seropositivity showed lower odds in households with completely vaccinated adults (adjusted odds ratio [OR]: 0.43, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.26–0.71, P = 0.0011) compared with households with unvaccinated adults. Other factors for low seropositivity included frontline workers as family members (adjusted OR: 0.69, 95% CI: 0.52–0.91, P = 0.0091) and non-crowded households (adjusted OR: 0.74, 95% CI: 0.61–0.89, P = 0.0019). A high SARS-CoV-2 IgG prevalence in unvaccinated children was indicative of previous exposure to potentially infected contacts. This implies in-person academic activities for children can be continued during future community transmission. Comparatively lower seropositivity in children of completely vaccinated households or frontline workers suggests decreased transmission due to vaccination-induced immunity of family members. Vaccination will still be required in these children to maintain protective IgG levels, particularly in low seroprevalence groups. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increasing number of evidence is linking household air pollution (HAP) with the respiratory and general health of people. In this context, this study tries to review and synthesize the Indian evidence on exposure to household air pollution and respiratory health outcomes from the epidemiological studies conducted in India. The literature is gathered by searching national and international databases and selected using PRISMA guidelines. Included 11 studies that suggested higher odds of developing respiratory illness in HAP-exposed individuals than the non-exposed ones. Most of the studies focused on respiratory health outcomes following exposure to HAP among women and children. Household air pollution was found to be associated with an increased risk of acute lower respiratory infections in children. Though Indian evidence is limited, household air pollution in combination with increasing ambient air pollution can have a significant health impact on the Indian population. Along with current legislative, administrative, and community efforts, higher individual and collective efforts are essential to reduce the overall impact of household air pollution in Indian settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is an increasing burden of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) in India which may be related to changing dietary patterns. We aimed to assess dietary patterns in children since they have time to change unhealthy patterns before NCDs develop. Participants were 665 children, 9–12 years old, born with low birth weight and 77 similarly aged normal birth weight controls. We collected data on sociodemography, anthropometry, body composition, and markers of risk for NCDs: grip strength, long jump, hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c). A food frequency questionnaire was used to collect dietary data from which dietary patterns were derived using principal component analysis (PCA). Fourteen food groups were included in the PCA analysis, resulting in three components: 'fruits and vegetables', 'protein', and 'sugar and fat'. Higher socioeconomic status and maternal education were associated with lower adherence to the fruit and vegetable pattern and higher adherence to the protein and sugar and fat patterns. Adherence to the fruits and vegetables pattern was associated with lower height‐for‐age, whereas the fat and sugar pattern was associated with higher indicators of body fat. In linear regression analyses adjusted for age, sex, religion, socioeconomic status, maternal education, and season of data collection, adherence to the 'fruits and vegetables' pattern was associated with lower grip strength, shorter long jump, and lower HbA1c. Adherence to the other patterns was not associated with NCD risk factors. Higher consumption of fruits and vegetables, achievable even by poorer families in the cohort, may lower HbA1c, a risk factor for diabetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Gender stereotyping in television advertising is a universal phenomenon and has the potential to influence children's perceptions of gender roles. Despite India's enormous child population, gender representation in television advertising is hardly researched. Methods: This study was conducted using a content analysis methodology to examine gender stereotypes in children's television advertising in India. A total of 189 unique advertisements were selected from six prime cartoon channels, namely Nickelodeon, Disney Channel, Hungama, Cartoon Network, Discovery Kids, and Pogo TV. A stratified constructed sample of 319 central figures from 102 hours of TV viewing was collected over two consecutive weeks in November 2018 during children's prime-time viewings. Results: This study examines gender role cues in children's television advertising using McArthur and Resko's coding method. The sample was subsequently analyzed using chi-square statistics, and the findings were contextualized and compared with those from other Asian nations. The results indicated that men significantly dominate (voice-over, product authority, autonomous roles, fact-based arguments, other products, end comments, pleasure, and practical rewards), whereas females are stereotyped (dependent roles, product users, portrayal of domestic products in domestic settings, opinion-based arguments, and self-enhancement rewards). Discussion: However, the results reveal a reduction in certain stereotypical aspects, such as a significant increase in women performing voice-overs and portraying characters with product authority and autonomy, while men exhibit increased involvement with domestic products and rewards such as selfenhancement, practical, and pleasure rewards. The theoretical (social learning and role congruity theory) and practical implications for advertisers and marketers are discussed based on these findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Backgrounds: The Universal Immunization Program of India is one of the most cost-effective interventions in public health. Missing or delaying vaccination may elicit an uncertain immune response in the body, making the population susceptible to vaccine-preventable diseases. The objectives of this study were to determine the coverage of newborn immunization for birth doses under the National Immunization Schedule and its epidemiological determinants in the rural areas of the Dehradun district, Uttarakhand. Materials and Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted for a period of one year with a sample size of 570. World Health Organization (WHO) 30 Cluster sampling technique was used with 19 children in each cluster. The data on determinants were collected using a semi-structured, pre-designed schedule through a house-to-house survey. Multivariate analysis was conducted to identify factors associated with immunization coverage, taking the significance level as P < 0.05. Results: The coverage of the Bacillus Calmette-Guérin vaccine, oral polio vaccine zero dose and hepatitis B birth dose were 100%, 91.9%, and 58.8%, respectively in the study area with an overall prevalence of incomplete coverage of newborn immunization as 42.5%. The most cited reason for children being unimmunized with birth doses was the unavailability of vaccines at the birthplace center (29.6%). Conclusions: The prevalence of incomplete coverage of newborn immunization was quite high, which was undermining the holistic approach of the National Immunization Program. Vaccine availability and accessibility at the birthplace with capacity building and training of the healthcare workers may be considered to ensure coverage of birth doses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Childhood injuries are a major public health challenge in India and globally. This systematic review was conducted to understand the burden and spectrum of childhood injuries, with a focus on unintentional injuries, among children 5-14 years of age and to suggest approaches to prevention that can be adopted in the Indian context. This systematic review was conducted with the standard approach and use of keywords. A total of 33 studies which were found to be relevant were analyzed. Road traffic accidents (RTAs) contribute to nearly 85% of all unintentional injuries and related deaths and 90% of disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) lost in developing countries. Poor traffic regulation, heavy traffic load, and poor skill of identifying the dangerous road crossing sites make the children's age group vulnerable and prone to RTA. Children with poor skill of identification and response to dangerous road crossing sites, along with heavy unregulated traffic were found to be the major reasons for such accidents and make this age group more vulnerable. Public health-based prevention approaches need to be based upon legislation, regulation, and enforcement, as well as environmental modification, education and skill development, emergency medical care using levels of prevention, and principles of targeted prevention to effectively address child health challenges. Addressing child injuries should be a key component of all endeavors aimed at enhancing child mortality and morbidity rates, as well as the overall welfare of children, both at the national and global levels. It is imperative to prioritize policies focused on preventing unintentional injuries across all age groups, with particular attention to children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Very few studies exist on tele-health models of parent-mediated interventions delivered in low resource developing countries. The global COVID-19 pandemic catalysed a pilot of an online delivery of an evidence-based parent-mediated intervention (Project ImPACT) for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder in Mumbai, India. Context and culture-specific adaptations were made in program structure and a mixed-methods approach was adopted to evaluate acceptability, feasibility and preliminary efficacy of this model. Quantitative results (n = 12) showed excellent completion rates, with significant improvement in parent fidelity to intervention and child social-communication skills. Analysis of qualitative data from focus groups with parents on completion revealed that parents found the online mode convenient and acceptable, found the synchronous model of sessions especially beneficial and perceived improvements in their own parenting skills and children's developmental profiles. Though piloted in pandemic times, the results from the study have implications for future service delivery models across similar settings in other developing countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Non-genetic factors like microbial dysbiosis may be contributing to the increasing incidence/progression of type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). Objectives: To analyse the gut microbiota profile in Indian children with T1DM and its effect on glycaemic control. Methodology: Faecal samples of 29 children with T1DM were collected and faecal microbial DNA was extracted and subjected to 16S rRNA (ribosomal RNA) sequencing and further analysis. Results: The dominant phyla in children with T1DM were Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes. Butyrate-producing bacteria Blautia and Ruminococcus showed a significant negative correlation with the glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1C) levels (p < 0.05). Coprococcus and Propionibacterium were important negative predictors of glycaemic control (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Our study suggests that Indian children with T1DM have a distinct gut microbiome taxonomic composition and that short-chain fatty acid-producing bacteria like Ruminococcus and Blautia (butyrate-producing) may play an important role in the glycaemic control of subjects with T1DM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anaplastic large-cell lymphoma (ALCL) constitutes 10–15% of non-Hodgkin lymphoma in children. With short-course chemotherapy, outcome has improved up-to 90% in developed-countries. There is limited-data on outcome of pediatric ALCL treated with ALCL99 protocol from low-middle income countries. Children ≤14 years, diagnosed with ALCL between 1st January 2007 and 31st December 2016 were analyzed. Details regarding clinical-presentation and treatment were recorded and outcome was analyzed. Fourteen-children were diagnosed. Median-age was 114 months (range 24 – 162 months). Male:female ratio was 3.6:1. Stage-I, II and III disease was seen in three (21.4%), three (21.4%), and eight (57.1%) children, respectively. Low, standard and high-risk disease was seen in two (14.2%), six (42.9%) and six (42.9%), respectively. All children were treated using ALCL99 protocol. Three (21.4%) children had disease-progression/relapse and five (35.7%) died (three from treatment-related mortality, and two from disease). At median follow-up of 54-months, four-year EFS and OS were 64.3% and 64.3%, respectively. Log-rank test demonstrated female gender (p = 0.005), stage-III disease (p < 0.001), visceral-organ involvement (p = 0.035), high-risk disease (p = 0.016) and, serum albumin ≤3.5 g/dL (p = 0.031) associated with significantly worse 4-year EFS. Cox-regression analysis demonstrated female gender associated with poor EFS (p = 0.02) and female gender and visceral-organ involvement associated with poor OS (p = 0.02, p = 0.011, respectively). Good survival could be achieved for children with ALCL using uniform treatment protocol in a resource-limited setting, especially among low and standard-risk children. Female-sex, high-risk disease, stage-III disease, visceral organ involvement and low albumin levels were associated with poor outcome, however these findings need to be corroborated in larger studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Childhood stunting is recognized as significant public health concern in India. It is a form of malnutrition with impaired linear growth and creates a range of adversaries among children, including under-5 mortality, morbidity, and physical and cognitive growth. The purpose of the present study was to recognize the various leading determinants causing childhood stunting from both individual and contextual level in Indian context. Data were obtained from the India's Demography and Health Survey (DHS) conducted in 2019–2021. A total of 1, 46,521 children aged 0–59 months were included in this present study. The study applied a multilevel mixed-effect logistic regression model in which individual factors nested within community based contextual-level factors estimating the likelihood of childhood stunting phenomena among Indian children. The variance explained in full model accounted for about 35.8% of the odds of stunting across the communities. The present study elucidates that the recognized factors from individual level characteristics have really increased the odds of childhood stunting: gender of child, multiple births, low birth weight, low BMI among mothers, less educational attainment by mothers, maternal anemic status, breast feeding duration longer than usual, < 4 antenatal care (ANC) visits during gestation period. Similarly, contextual-level factors like rural places of residence, western Indian children, and communities with high poverty rates, lower literacy rates, improper sanitation, and unsafe drinking water were also found to have a significant positive association with childhood stunting. The study finally concludes that cross level interaction between individual and contextual-level factors are identified as significant determinants of linear growth retardation among child in India. In order to reduce this type of malnutrition among the child one should more concentrate on both individual and contextual-level factors as a notable reasons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Acute respiratory infections (ARI) are a major cause of mortality and morbidity among under-five children worldwide, particularly in developing countries. Current evidence using nationally representative data on determinants and care-seeking behavior for ARI is limited in the Indian context. Hence, the present study complements the existing literature by examining the prevalence, determinants, and health-care-seeking behavior regarding ARI among Indian children under age five. Study design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: The data for the present study were drawn from the fifth round of the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5) conducted in 28 states and 8 union territories of India in 2019-21. A total of 222,233 children age less than five years were selected to estimate the prevalence and determinants of ARI, and 6198 children having ARI were selected to explore the treatment-seeking behavior. Bivariate analysis and multivariable binary logistic regression analysis were employed. Results: Among children under five years, 2.8% suffered from ARI in the two weeks preceding the survey, and 56.1% sought treatment for ARI. Younger age, a recent episode of diarrhea, maternal asthmatic history, and tobacco smoke exposure in the household increase the risk of having ARI. Further, having a separate room as a kitchen in the household reduces the likelihood of having ARI by 14% (AOR: 0.86; CI: 0.79–0.93). Female children (AOR: 0.88; CI: 0.77-1.00) and children belonging to households having difficulty in accessing transport to health facility (AOR: 0.83; CI: 0.69–0.99) are less likely to seek treatment. Conclusion: The study identified several socio-demographic, maternal, and household characteristics associated with ARI and treatment seeking for ARI. The study also recommends making health centers more accessible to the people in terms of proximity and cost. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]