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When transforming from a traditional rural economy to a rapid marketization period, it is essential to consider the relationship between multiple shocks and household income in poor rural areas of China. Using two waves of a rural household surveys from six poor counties in China between 2015 and 2018, we examine the effect of multiple shocks on households' income and explore the heterogeneity of different shocks and households based on income. The multiple linear regression and quantile regression results demonstrate that multiple shocks negatively affect farm household income, and the range of impact is widening. Specifically, natural disaster shocks reduce the income of low-income households more, and unnatural disaster shocks reduce the income of middle–low-income farm households more. We conclude that illness within the family and lack of working household members are the primary shocks currently suffered by different types of farm households. In contrast to previous research, this study identifies middle–low-income farm households as most in need of attention and reveals that unnatural disaster shocks in poor rural areas of China are most in need of governance during recovery transitions. The findings enrich the existing theoretical system and provide policymakers with practical insights regarding differentiated and preemptive risk governance approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to estimate the status of complementary feeding (CF) and its associated factors among 6–23-month breastfed infants and young children (IYC). We used secondary data from the China Nutrition Improvement Project on Children in Poor Areas in 2018. The status of CF was provided by parents of IYC through 24-h dietary recall. The study included 13,972 6–23-month-old breastfed IYC comprising 24.7% 6–8-month, 28.5% 9–11-month, 31.4% 12–17-month, and 18–23-month IYC. The highest percentage of IYC introduced to cereal foods was 84.8%. Nearly, 83.6% of 6–8-month infants were introduced to solid or semi-solid food. The prevalence of meeting requirements of non-dairy animal source food and minimum acceptable diet (MAD) was 75.3 and 35.1% of 6–23-month IYC, respectively, and was significantly higher in older than younger IYC (p < 0.001). Age of IYC, education level of parents, paternal employment, and nutrition knowledge of parents were positively associated factors for the prevalence of meeting requirements of MAD, and diarrhea at 2 weeks and maternal employment were negatively associated with MAD. Totally, the prevalence of meeting the requirements of MAD was relatively lower in breastfed IYC. The government should scale up appropriate CF with consideration of food availability.

Background and Objectives: Milk promotes the growth of children's height. However, the relationship between milk consumption and anemia or obesity remain unclear. We explored the association between milk consumption and the nutritional status of poor rural Chinese students, including anemia, height, weight, malnutrition, and overweight/obesity.Methods and Study Design: A total of 22,315 students aged 8-16 years were recruited. The frequency of milk consumption and other information were investigated using the questionnaire. Students' morning fasting height, weight, and whole-blood hemoglobin were measured. The children were classified as malnutrition, normal weight, and overweight/obesity according to their age-specific height and BMI. Multivariate linear and multiple logistic regression were used to analyze the association between milk consumption and nutritional status.Results: In total, 10.6% of students drank milk at least once a day. Compared to students who drank milk <1 time/week, The heights and weights of students who consumed milk 1-3 times/week, 4-6 times/week, and at least once per day were 0.8, 0.9, and 1.3 cm greater and 0.8, 0.6, and 1.0 kg heavier. Students who drank milk at least once a day (OR=0.817), and 1-3 times/week (OR=0.868) had a significantly lower prevalence of malnutrition. Students who drank milk 4-6 times/week (OR=0.472) had a significantly lower prevalence of anemia. However, no significant association was identified between milk consumption and overweight/obesity.Conclusions: Frequent consumption of milk was associated with these students having a lower risk of malnutrition and anemia, being taller, and being heavier. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to provide a policy basis for improving the early development of poor rural children, this paper uses quantitative data and quatitative research methods to study the early development of children in poor rural areas and the impact of family environmental quality on such development. The results show that the early development of poor rural children, especially the ability of social emotion is not perfect, and the quHty of family environment has a significant impact on the early development of poor rural children. Therefore, in order to improve the early development of rural children, it is necessary to attach importance to the improvement of family environment and increae the interaction with children. The government needs to establish and improve the mechanism of providing early development services, increase investment and find more efficient service model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVES: To examine the effects of early comprehensive interventions on home environment and child neurodevelopment among children younger than 3 years in poor rural areas of China, as well as the underlying mediating and moderating mechanisms. STUDY DESIGN: Non-randomized intervention study was conducted among 216 children aged 0-3 years in Shanxi province of China. Based on a 2 x 2 factor design, children in Lin and Fenxi County were assigned to an intervention group with duration less than 1 year (n = 26) or an intervention group with duration longer than 1 year (n = 82), while children in Fangshan County served as a control group with duration less than 1 year (n = 30) or a control group with duration longer than 1 year (n = 78). METHODS: The control group received national public health services (NPHS), while the intervention group received NPHS plus comprehensive interventions covering health, nutrition, early psychosocial stimulation, and child protection. Home environment (Infant-Toddler Home Observation for Measurement of the Environment [HOME]) and child neurodevelopment (Ages and Stages Questionnaire [ASQ]) were measured by observation and interview with mothers after the intervention program. RESULTS: The intervention group showed significantly higher overall HOME, organization, learning materials, and involvement than the control group, only for a duration longer than 1 year. Children in the intervention group performed better in overall ASQ, fine motor, problem-solving, and personal-social than children in the control group. Moderated mediation analyses indicated that there were significantly indirect effects of treatment on overall ASQ through overall HOME, organization, and involvement only when the duration was longer than 1 year. CONCLUSIONS: Early comprehensive interventions longer than 1 year improve home environment and promote child neurodevelopment among children younger than 3 years in poor rural areas. What is more, effects of early comprehensive interventions longer than 1 year on child neurodevelopment were mediated by home environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to estimate the status of complementary feeding (CF) and its associated factors among 6-23-month breastfed infants and young children (IYC). We used secondary data from the China Nutrition Improvement Project on Children in Poor Areas in 2018. The status of CF was provided by parents of IYC through 24-h dietary recall. The study included 13,972 6-23-month-old breastfed IYC comprising 24.7% 6-8-month, 28.5% 9-11-month, 31.4% 12-17-month, and 18-23-month IYC. The highest percentage of IYC introduced to cereal foods was 84.8%. Nearly, 83.6% of 6-8-month infants were introduced to solid or semi-solid food. The prevalence of meeting requirements of non-dairy animal source food and minimum acceptable diet (MAD) was 75.3 and 35.1% of 6-23-month IYC, respectively, and was significantly higher in older than younger IYC ( p < 0.001). Age of IYC, education level of parents, paternal employment, and nutrition knowledge of parents were positively associated factors for the prevalence of meeting requirements of MAD, and diarrhea at 2 weeks and maternal employment were negatively associated with MAD. Totally, the prevalence of meeting the requirements of MAD was relatively lower in breastfed IYC. The government should scale up appropriate CF with consideration of food availability., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2021 Liu, Huo, Sun, Huang, Gong and Wang.)

This study explored how maternal and infant illness correlated with the risk of postpartum depression in the Chinese Qinba Mountains region. In total, 131 villages comprising 435 families with infants (≤6 months old) were randomly sampled. We collected data on maternal and infant illnesses and maternal health knowledge level. The Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-21 was used to measure the risk of postpartum depression. We used descriptive statistics and multivariate logistic regression for the analysis. Infant overall health status was a risk factor for postpartum depression (odds ratio (OR) = 1.90, 95% Confidence Interval (95% CI) = 1.10~3.28), whereas maternal overall health status was not correlated with postpartum depression (OR = 1.36, 95% CI = 0.55~3.39). For specific illnesses, infants experiencing over two common illnesses in the past two weeks (OR = 1.98, 95% CI = 1.13~3.45) and mothers experiencing over two common pains within two weeks after delivery (OR = 1.77, 95% CI = 1.02~3.08) were risk factors for postpartum depression, whereas infants with mild and severe stunted growth, maternal C-section, and postpartum body mass index (normal or overweight) were not correlated with it (all p > 0.050). Maternal health knowledge was an important moderator of maternal and infant illnesses on the risk of postpartum depression. In conclusion, maternal and infant illness were essential factors for the risk of postpartum depression in a poor rural region in western China, which may be mainly affected by the feeling of uncertainty of illness. Improved maternal and infant health and enhanced maternal health knowledge might alleviate the risk of postpartum depression.