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Objective: Motivation for the study. Filling a knowledge gap regarding support groups for caregivers of children with multiple disabilities. Main findings. Support groups are valuable spaces for social support and learning for caregivers of children with multiple disabilities. They facilitate resilience and coping strategies following the birth of a child with multiple disabilities. They promote the participation and empowerment of caregivers of children with multiple disabilities to address access barriers and advocate for the fundamental rights of children. Implications. It is important to promote and support support groups for caregivers of children with multiple disabilities. To explore the perceived benefits of participating in a support group of caregivers of children with multiple disabilities., Materials and Methods.: A qualitative study with a focused ethnographic approach was conducted from October 2022 to February 2023, in which we applied convenience sampling. We included 20 caregivers of children with multiple disabilities. Information was collected through participant observation, focus groups, and semi-structured interviews. Thematic analysis was performed by applying Braun and Clark's proposals., Results.: The emerging themes were: social support network: integrating, informing, and helping each other; learning space: learning to take care and to take care of oneself; promoting empowerment: identifying and facing access barriers., Conclusions.: We found that the support group functions as a social support network provides information, reduces uncertainty, and facilitates coping and resilience after the birth and upbringing of a child with multiple disabilities. It is a space where one learns to care for and take care of oneself and where empowerment for the defense of the rights of children with disabilities is promoted.

Studies with adults and school children have shown that placebos can enhance motivation and performance in physical activities. This study aimed to investigate whether similar effects are present in kindergarten-aged children. A total of 101 children (58 girls, 43 boys) aged 3 to 6 years were randomly assigned to one of two groups that either received a deceptive placebo (DP: “magic potion”) or a nondeceptive placebo (NDP: “water”) to enhance physical abilities. Each child completed three tasks (sprinting; balancing: standing on a balance board; strength: using a handheld dynamometer) both with and without the placebo. The variables assessed included task performance, enjoyment, and expected and perceived placebo efficacy (measured with nonverbal pictorial rating scales). Results showed that both the DP and NDP increased speed. For strength, balance, and task enjoyment (which was very high), no placebo-induced changes were observed. Expected efficacy was higher for the DP; perceived efficacy did not differ between DP and NDP. In conclusion, reported outcome expectations indicated that kindergarten-aged children were already able to differentiate between the two types of placebos which exhibited positive effects concerning running performance. This encourages further research on using nondeceptive placebos to enhance physical activity, which is crucial for children’s overall health.

(1) Background: This study assesses the impact of mothers’ illness perceptions about autism spectrum disorder and their coping strategies on the family’s quality of life during the initial period following diagnosis and one year afterward. (2) Method: The sample consisted of 53 mothers of children newly diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder and having communication difficulties who completed the following: the Beach Center Family Quality of Life Scale, the Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire, and the Brief-COPE. (3) Results: The findings revealed a moderate family quality of life in the initial assessment and a lack of a statistically significant change one year later. Notably, statistically significant changes were observed in coping strategies, as in the second assessment, and the score in denial and self-blame decreased. Pearson and Eta analyses indicated several correlations between socio-demographic characteristics, illness perceptions, coping strategies, and family quality of life. Multiple regression analysis showed that positive reframing was positively associated with total family quality of life in the initial period following diagnosis and one year afterward, while self-blame was associated with poorer quality of life in the time after diagnosis. Furthermore, the belief about the controllability of the disorder was correlated with better family quality of life one year after the diagnosis. (4) Conclusions: Illness perceptions and coping can be considered as predictors of family quality of life outcomes one year after the diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder. The focus of interventions, apart from controlling the disorder’s symptoms, should aim to strengthen specific strategies and weaken others.

Research on autistic children who grow up in multilingual environments remains sparse, despite more than half of the global population being multilingual. Autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) is characterized by severe impairments in communication and language skills. Many ASD parents ask specialists for advice about whether their child should study both languages simultaneously in a bilingual environment. The study investigated the challenges faced by teachers and parents in educating children with ASD in learning English as a Second language (ESL). The study sample consisted of nine parents and five teachers of children with ASD who were interviewed using a qualitative approach. According to the findings of the study, teaching English as a Second Language to children with autism spectrum disorders with visual aids, modeling, and repetition has been shown to be an effective method to enhance the language and social abilities of children with autism. While it is difficult to develop teaching strategies that are effective for children with autism spectrum disorders, teachers have found that these children are extremely proficient in acquiring new languages. Additionally, to ensure successful language learning programs for children with ASD, it is essential that educators and parents collaborate in order to make the programs successful. Moreover, this study demonstrates various methods that educators and parents could use in order to assist children in achieving bilingualism. The study recommends that more research is needed to fully comprehend the difficulties that ESL teachers face when they are trying to teach children with ASD how to learn languages.

Introduction: Although gifted children can express high cognitive skills, they can also show socioemotional difficulties. Drawing from Olson’s circumplex model, the present paper assessed the role of family functioning in internalizing and externalizing problems in gifted children. Materials and Methods: 362 mothers and their 362 gifted children were included. The unbalanced subscales of the FACES IV—disengagement, enmeshment, rigidity, and chaos—and the CBCL were administered to mothers. The children completed the WISC-IV. Results: The model predicting internalizing problems was significant and explained 5.6% of the variance. Only rigidity had an independent and positive effect on internalizing problems in gifted children over and above sociodemographic variables and QI, whereas disengagement, enmeshment, and chaos were not associated with internalizing problems. The model predicting externalizing problems was significant and explained 10% of the variance. Again, rigidity was the only variable that had an independent and positive effect on externalizing problems in gifted children over and above sociodemographic variables and QI, whereas disengagement, enmeshment, and chaos were not associated with externalizing problems in this population. Discussion: Rigid families with a low ability to change in conditions that require readjustment appear to increase the risk of both internalizing and externalizing problems in gifted children. Although further studies are needed to support these preliminary findings, parental support interventions aimed at increasing flexibility appear to be useful.

The present study aimed to examine precision and variability in dart throwing performance and the relationships between these outcomes and bouncing, throwing and catching tasks in children with and without DCD. Children between the ages of 8 and 10 years (n = 165) were classified according to results obtained on the Movement Assessment Battery for Children (MABC-2) and divided into three groups: 65 children with severe DCD (s-DCD), 45 with moderate DCD (m-DCD) and 55 typically developing children (TD). All children performed the dart throwing test and the ball skill items of the Performance and Fitness Test (PERF-FIT). The accuracy and variability of dart throwing tasks were significantly different between TD and s-DCD (p < 0.01), and also between m-DCD and s-DCD (p < 0.01). Participants with s-DCD were also found to perform significantly worse on all PERF-FIT ball skill items than m-DCD (p < 0.001), and m-DCD were significantly poorer than TD (p < 0.001). The dart score and coefficient of variation of the long-distance task appear to be significant predictors for the ball skills and explain between 24 to 29% of their variance. In conclusion, poor results in aiming tasks using darts in children with DCD corroborate with the explanation of deficits in predictive control since the tasks require ballistic movements.

This article focuses on the management of women and children associated with FTFs upon their return to Indonesia, particularly from camps in Syria. This research highlights the urgency of preparing a mechanism for the returnees and the proposed alternative solutions, as the camps in Syria are expected to be closed in the near future. In addition, the use of risk assessment tools to identify the level of risk of each individual will determine how the repatriation process, time and individuals to be repatriated within a given period. The results of this research also point to the following as possible solutions (a) the establishment of rehabilitation and deradicalization centers within and outside the country, (b) the preparation of risk assessment and needs mechanisms, (c) the creation of an integrated child adoption system (SAAT) programme, and (d) the establishment of an early warning and early detection system mechanism at the community level.

Abstract Objective This article aimed to evaluate the psychological adjustment of Brazilian children experiencing cancer relapse by comparing their adjustment with cancer survivors and “healthy” children, based on the reports of their parents or caregivers. Method Participants were 140 caregivers of children in relapse (n = 24), remission (n = 59), and of children considered “healthy” (control group) (n = 57). The Behavior Assessment System for Children and the Family Environment Scale were applied. Data analyses were performed through Student’s t-test, Chi-square, analysis of variance, and Pearson correlations. Results The results showed that children with cancer did not present more psychopathologies than the control group; however, they had more social and leadership skills. Protective (family cohesion) and risk factors (child´s age, number of relapses, treatment duration, caregiver’s income and education level) were also observed. Conclusion This study proposes the screening of psychological symptoms for risk subgroups and the design of intervention strategies for this population.

Introduction Bruxism is a parafunction characterized by excessive chewing muscle activity involving grinding or clenching of the teeth. Bruxism has become a significant challenge in the field of pediatric dentistry. Aim of the study The aim of this comprehensive review is to provide an overview of bruxism in children, focusing on etiology, symptoms, diagnosis, and current treatment options. To draw attention to the prevalence of the disorder and to raise awareness of the importance of early recognition and intervention for bruxism in children. Materials and methods An analysis of scientific articles available in the PubMed and Google Scholar databases was conducted. Our research is supported by all relevant publications from recent years. The etiology, diagnosis, and treatment of bruxism in children were of particular interest in the study. This process involved the use of the following keywords: ‘bruxism’, ‘children’, ‘sleep bruxism’, ‘tooth wear’, ‘bruxism diagnosis’, ‘bruxism etiology’, ‘bruxism treatment’. Conclusions We evaluated 31 relevant publications. The results of the study indicate a variation in the prevalence of bruxism in children, oscillating between 13-49%. The etiology of this disorder is multidimensional and remains incompletely elucidated. The primary methods of diagnosing bruxism in younger patients include observation by parents or caregivers, a thorough health history and intraoral and extraoral dental examination. Physiotherapy and psychotherapy are recommended for the treatment of nocturnal bruxism in children. Prompt recognition of the disorder and implementation of appropriate therapy can help to halt the progression of motor dysfunction of the masticatory apparatus in children.

Background: HIV-infected children have a higher risk of presenting infections, including the hepatitis A virus (HAV). The inactivated HAV vaccine is immunogenic in immunocompetent hosts; however, there are insufficient studies on the duration of seroprotection in HIV-infected children. Methods: An analytical cohort study was conducted. HIV-1-infected children who received the inactivated HAV vaccine (2 doses) were included. Blood samples were taken for antibody measurement, the first one 28 days after the second dose and another 7 years after the vaccination schedule. Information on viral load, immunological category, weight, height, and response to antiretroviral treatment from diagnosis to the last assessment was obtained. Results: 19 patients were included, with a mean age of 12.6 years (SD ± 2.29). 58% were male. 80% of the patients presented protective immunoglobulin G antibodies against HAV 7-year post-vaccination. The antibody concentration was found to be between 13 and 80 mIU/mL (median of 80 mIU/mL). 52% showed some degree of immunosuppression. There was no statistically significant relationship between the presence of seroprotection and viral load, treatment failure, immunological category, and malnutrition. Twelve patients presented with antiretroviral treatment failure, and in 33% of them, the antibodies did not offer satisfactory seroprotection. Conclusion: 7-year post-vaccination, 80% of HIV-infected children maintain seroprotection titers against HAV.

Objectives: to identify content on play and interaction with children with special health care needs recommended in clinical guidelines; analyze play and interaction activities applicable to children with special health care needs and complex care requirements., Method: qualitative documentary research based on guides, protocols, or guidelines on playing and interacting with children with special and living with complex care. Search terms in English (guidelines, playing OR play, complex needs, OR chronic disease) and in Portuguese ( guia, brincar ou brincadeiras, condições crônicas ) on the first ten pages of&#95;Google Search ® . Thematic analysis was applied to the information extracted from the documents., Results: a total of nine documents with similar content were grouped into units of analysis, keeping only the interacting and playing activities applicable to children with special health care needs and living with complex care requirements, namely stimulation of potential, stimulation of adult-child interaction, and stimulation of the senses (touch, sight, and hearing), to be carried out by health professionals and family caregivers in the different care contexts., Conclusion: interaction and play are potential promoters of adult-child interaction, with application in the stimulating and life-delivering complex care for children.

This article aims to contribute to the study of enslaved children and youth in Portuguese India. While enslaved children have been addressed in studies on slave trafficking and slavery in Portuguese India, they have not been the primary focus of analysis. The aim is to provide insights into the experiences of these children as slaves and their displacement through the societies of the Indian Ocean and from Goa to Lisbon. The article also discusses the challenges of studying enslaved children, considering the possibilities and limitations of analysis based on Portuguese sources from Goa and Lisbon, such as manumission letters and ecclesiastical and inquisitorial sources. This article is part of the special theme section on Women, Children, and Enslaved People in the Portuguese Empire in Asia, 16th-18th Centuries, guest-edited by Rozely Vigas and Rômulo Ehalt.

Nocturnal smartphone use emits blue light, which can adversely affect sleep, leading to a variety of negative effects, particularly in children. Therefore, the present study aimed to determine the effect of acute (AC) (one night) and repeated (RC) (five nights) nocturnal smartphone exposure on sleep, cortisol, and next-day performance in Tunisian children. Thirteen participants (seven girls and six boys, age 9 ± 0.6, height 1.32 ± 0.06, weight 34.47 ± 4.41) attended six experimental nights. The experiment started with a baseline night (BL) with no smartphone exposure, followed by repeated sessions of nocturnal smartphone exposure lasting 90 minutes (08:00 pm–09:30 pm). Actigraphy; salivary cortisol; the Stroop test (selective attention); choice reaction time (CRT); N-back (working memory); counter-movement jump (CMJ), composed of flight time (time spent in the CMJ flight phase) and jump height; and a 30 m sprint were assessed the morning after each condition. Both AC and RC shortened total sleep time (TST) (p < 0.01), with a greater decrease with RC (−46.7 min, ∆% = −9.46) than AC (−28.8 min, ∆% = −5.8) compared to BL. AC and RC significantly increased waking after sleep onset (3.5 min, ∆% = 15.05, to 9.9 min, ∆% = 43.11%) and number of errors made on the Stroop test (1.8 error, ∆% = 74.23, to 3.07 error, ∆% = 97.56%). Children made 0.15 and 0.8 more errors (∆% = 6.2 to 57.61%) and spent 46.9 s and 71.6 s more time on CRT tasks (∆% = 7.22 to 11.11%) with AC and RC, respectively, compared to BL. The high-interference index of the Stroop task, CMJ performance, and 30 m sprint speed were only altered (p < 0.01) following RC (0.36, Δ% = 41.52%; −34 s, Δ% = −9.29%, for flight time and −1.23 m, −8.72%, for jump height; 0.49 s, Δ% = 6.48, respectively) when compared to BL. In conclusion, one- or five-night exposure to smartphones disturbed the children’s sleep quality and their performance, with more pronounced effects following RC.

Streptococcus pneumoniae causes meningitis, pneumonia and bacteremia, mainly in children under 5 years of age and in the elderly. Pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs) have been administered globally since the year 2000, contributing to substantially reduce the incidence of pneumococcal diseases (PDs). In 2012, Colombia implemented universal vaccination with PCV10 in children under 2 years of age, achieving a decrease and stabilization of the incidence of PDs. However, since 2014, replacement of vaccine serotypes by non-vaccine serotypes, such as 3 and 19A, predominantly, has been observed. Likewise, in 2019, there was an increase in the incidence of meningitis, coinciding with the increase of multi-resistant 19A clones. In July 2022, the vaccine formulation was changed to PCV13, which also has the potential to control serotypes 3, 6A, and 19A. This paper reviews the epidemiology of pneumococcus in Colombia, before and during the uni-versal PCV10 vaccination.

Einstein is one of the names with the greatest impact in the scientific field. Furthermore, the physicist corresponded with children from different parts of the world. The documents can be consulted in the book “Dear professor Einstein: Albert Einstein’s letters to and from children”, which is precisely the corpus of this investigation. Focusing on the scientific theme, the central objective of the research is to analyze the textual discursive strategies used by the scientist to disseminate science to children and the aspects of the science communication genre for children that are present in the letters. The didactic discourse, aspects such as the playful dimension, humor, transgression, and interpellation, with a use of words that bring the presumed public closer to scientific content, stand out in Einstein's letters. The existence of Einstein's letters remains a rare example of contact from a renowned scientist who proposes to dialogue with children.

In Portugal, there are few generic and specific instruments to assess health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in children, especially those of preschool age. This study aimed to adapt and validate the Portuguese version of the Preschool Children Quality of Life Questionnaire (TAPQoL) in a community and clinical sample of children aged 0–6 years. The parents of 409 healthy children and 137 children undergoing treatment for burns and acute lymphoblastic leukemia completed the TAPQoL and were assessed on psychological morbidity and family functioning. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were performed, as well as analysis of the psychometric properties as shown by internal consistency measures, convergent validity, and average variance extracted. Confirmatory factor analysis confirmed an 11-factor structure with good psychometric properties. The current version of the TAPQoL is a valid and reliable instrument for assessing HRQoL in Portuguese preschool children in community and clinical settings.

Introduction: Introduction: Mexico is one of the countries with the highest prevalence of childhood obesity worldwide. The increase of addictive behaviors at an early age is a possible cause of its development. The Yale Food Addiction Scale for Children (YFAS-C) allows identifying children with food addictive behaviors. Objective: to validate the YFAS-C scale in Spanish in a population sample of Mexican children and adolescents. Material and methods: an exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis was performed. The study sample consisted of 448 children from seven to 14 years of age. The first stage involved translation into Spanish; a second stage involved the solution of questions with discrepancies; then, a reverse translation into the original language and a review by experts on the subject of eating disorders in pediatric population were performed; and in the last stage, a pilot test in order to culturally adapt the instrument and the evaluation of the psychometric properties was carried out. Results: using the principal component extraction method, four components were identified that explained 47.1 % of the sample variance. In the confirmatory factor analysis, it was found that the goodness-of-fit indices met the required values (CFI = 0.906: GFI = 0.932; AGFI = 0.915, SRMS = 0.007 and RMSEA = 0.043). Conclusions: a validated Spanish version of the YFAS-C scale was obtained for Mexican children and adolescents to assess food addiction.

Bone mass progressively increases to peak during childhood and adolescence, which determines future bone health. Bone formation–resorption processes are assessed using bone markers. However, studies on the impact of obesity on bone turnover markers at this age are limited, and results are inconsistent. The objective of this study was to examine the potential impact of overweight/obesity on bone metabolism.

Introduction: Assessing the family and social dimensions from the pediatric cancer patient's perspective encounters challenges, as children and adolescents often do not verbally express their needs and experiences related to family and interactions with others. Drawing emerges as a valuable method for psychological evaluation, offering access to the inner world of patients in an enjoyable and non-threatening manner. Objective: To assess the family and social experiences of children and adolescents with cancer. Material and Methods: A qualitative research design with inductive content analysis was utilized. The study included twenty children aged 6-17 years diagnosed with cancer from the Hospital de Especialidades Pediátricas in Maracaibo, Venezuela. Data collection involved drawings, observations, and interviews conducted over three individual sessions. Results: Two main categories emerged from the analysis: (1) Family Dimension, encompassing aspects of the family dynamics from the patient's perspective, the patient's needs within the family context, significant figures for the patient, and the patient's perception of parental concerns; and (2) Social Dimension, which covers patients' appreciation for healthcare professionals and their social needs, such as the desire to be with friends, resume everyday life, and achieve goals in life. Conclusions: Drawing is a valid and effective tool for evaluating family and social interactions and needs in children and adolescents with cancer.

Introduction: Children with chronic kidney disease (CKD) require a specialized diet to manage their condition and support healthy growth and development. A proper diet for children with CKD aims to control the intake of certain nutrients, such as protein, lipid, calcium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, and vitamin D, while ensuring they receive adequate nutrition for growth and development. Aim of the study: This article discusses the epidemiology, causes and pathomechanism of CKD in children. It also presents existing clinical trials and dietary recommendations from societies such as Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) 2024, Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative (KDOQI) and Pediatric Renal Nutrition Taskforce (PRNT) and identifies potential sources of selected macronutrients and micronutrients in children's diets. Materials and methods: Comprehensive literature searches were performed across the main electronic databases of PubMed, Google Scholar, KDIGO2024, KDQQI and PRNT recommendations for studies published in the English language about dietary recommendations for children with CKD. Results: The approach to nutrition for children with CKD is still evolving, and specific macronutrient and micronutrient ratios should be established based on the clinical condition, the child's age, and body weight. Care should be taken to ensure that the child's diet is varied, and a healthy eating style should be promoted.

This paper provides a comprehensive review of evidence-based behavioural strategies for the successful inclusion of children with autism in general education environments. The authors emphasize the importance of creating a truly inclusive learning environment and implementing behavioural research-based strategies to support the effective inclusion of children with autism. The review includes behavioural strategies such as behavioural assessment and approaches, review and practice, direct instruction, formative assessment and feedback, and school-wide positive behaviour support. The paper is one of a series of papers reviewing inclusive strategies for children with Autism.

Introduction Vegetarianism is an eating pattern centred on plant-based food. It encompasses many diets that differ in terms of whether they contain goods originating from animals, like milk and eggs. Nowadays, vegetarianism is increasing in popularity in developed nations, particularly in Europe. Individuals choose vegetarian diets for reasons related to health, ethics, or ecology. The rising popularity of vegetarian diets is not limited to adults but is also increasing among children. Aim of the study Vegetarian diets are generally considered to be beneficial for health. However, there are concerns over the ability to meet the dietary requirements necessary during infancy, youth, and adolescence on a vegetarian diet. Therefore, the primary aim of this systematic review is to answer questions about the efficacy of a plant-based diet in meeting the nutritional requirements of children and how to avoid the risk of nutritional deficiencies among vegetarian children. Material and methods Article provides an overview of the current literature about the vegetarian diet in children. The information has been collected from a comprehensive search of electronic databases, scientific journals, and statement papers published by nutrition and paediatric organisations. Results Following a vegetarian diet can be a beneficial decision for all children, assuming that it is properly organised and well balanced. The majority of paediatric and nutrition organisations do not recommend more strict diets for children, such as a vegan diet, which fully excludes not only meat but all animal products.

Objective: The aim of the study was to describe how physical exercise affects metabolic control, insulin requirements and carbohydrate intake in children who use hybrid closed-loop systems. Methods: Cross-sectional study design. The sample included 21 children and adolescents diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. During the study, participants were monitored for a period of 7 days to gather comprehensive data on these factors. Results: Nine participants (42.9%) had switched to exercise mode to raise the target glucose temporarily to 150 mg/dL. The HbA1c values ranged from 5.5% to 7.9% (median, 6.5%; IQR, 0.75). The percentage of time within the target range of 70−180 mg/dL was similar; however, there was an increased duration of hyperglycaemia and more autocorrections on exercise days. The time spent in severe hyperglycaemia (>250 mg/dL) increased by 2.7% in exercise compared to non-exercise days (P = .02). It is worth noting that hypoglycaemic episodes did not increase during the exercise days compared with non-exercise days. Conclusion: The hybrid closed-loop system was effective and safe in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes during the performance of competitive sports in real life. Resumen: Objetivo: El objetivo de este estudio es describir cómo el ejercicio físico afecta el control metabólico, las necesidades de insulina y el consumo de carbohidratos en niños usuarios de un sistema híbrido de circuito cerrado. Métodos: Diseño de estudio transversal. Se reclutaron veintiún niños y adolescentes diagnosticados con diabetes tipo 1. Durante el estudio, los participantes fueron monitoreados durante un período de 7 días para recopilar datos completos sobre estos factores. Resultados: Nueve participantes (42,9%) habían activado el modo de ejercicio, para elevar temporalmente la glucosa objetivo a 150 mg/dL. La HbA1c osciló entre 5,5% y 7,9% (mediana 6,5%, IQR 0,75). El porcentaje de tiempo dentro del rango de 70−180 mg/dL fue similar; sin embargo, hubo una mayor duración de la hiperglucemia y más autocorrecciones en los días en que se realizó ejercicio. El porcentaje de tiempo en hiperglucemia grave (>250 mg/dL) fue 2,7 mayor durante el ejercicio versus los días sin ejercicio (p = 0,02). En particular, los episodios de hipoglucemia no aumentaron durante los días de práctica de ejercicio, en comparación con los días sin ejercicio. Conclusiones: El sistema híbrido de circuito cerrado fue efectivo y seguro en niños y adolescentes diagnosticados con diabetes tipo 1 durante ejercicios físicos competitivos en la vida real.

Introduction. Video games have a strong influence on children and adolescents. Video game addiction has negative effects on children’s health. Objective. To determine the relationship between video game addiction and bladder/bowel dysfunction in children. Materials and methods. Three hundred sixty-three children and their mothers who met the inclusion criteria constituted the sample of this correlational study. The data were collected using a descriptive information form, the Video Game Addiction Scale for Children, and the Childhood Bladder and Bowel Dysfunction Questionnaire. Results. We found that 72.5% of the children were nine years old and 27.5% were ten years old; 50.4% were males and 49.6% were female. While 4.7% of the children who participated in the study were underweight, 19.6% were overweight, and 17.9% were obese. The mean Video Game Addiction Scale for Children score was 50.77 ± 16.17, whereas the mean Childhood Bladder and Bowel Dysfunction Questionnaire score was 29.98 ± 8.90. The ratio of children with a mean Video Game Addiction Scale for Children scores equal to or greater than 90 was 0.8% (n = 3). We found that 3.6% (n = 13) of the children had urinary/fecal incontinence while playing video games. There was a weak positive relationship between the dimensions of the Video Game Addiction Scale for Children scores, the Childhood Bladder and Bowel Dysfunction Questionnaire scores, and children’s bladder and bowel function (r = 0.220; p ˂ 0.05). Conclusions. There is a correlation between children’s video game addiction level and their bladder and bowel dysfunction grade. Higher video game addiction levels correspond to higher bladder and bowel dysfunction.

The formal recognition of the right to full protection of children and adolescents by the Constitution and the Child and Adolescent Statute (ECA) does not imply the practical implementation of this right, nor that its legal effectiveness is racially equitable. The study aims to give quantitative expression to racial disparities in the empirical enjoyment of the right to full protection. The research time frame comprises the years between 2019 and 2021 and data are referred to Brazil. Variables related to aspects of full protection are considered, such as the number of homicides, police fatalities, deaths from preventable causes, low birth weight, low per capita household income, and enrollment in daycare centers and primary education, based on aggregate data made available by IBGE, UNICEF, Fundação Abrinq, the Brazilian Public Security Forum, and the Ministry of Health. The main finding is that the race/color of the child and adolescent mattered for the enjoyment of the right to full protection in the analyzed section. Racially biased police lethality concerning black children and adolescents was the aspect with the highest deterioration in the period studied. The highest decrease in racial bias observed was in the incidence of children and adolescents up to 14 years of age with per capita household income of up to ¼ of the minimum wage, which, however, remains with a strong bias. Among the variables considered, there was only no relevant racial bias in live births with low birth weight. The findings challenge the arguments that there would be a deracialized childhood/adolescence in Brazil and point to the need to explicitly consider race when designing public policies aimed at childhood and adolescence.

ABSTRACT Objective: To identify predictors of stunting among children 0-24 months in Southeast Asia. Methods: This scoping review focused on articles with observational study design in English published from 2012 to 2023 from five international databases. The primary keyword used were: “stunting” OR “growth disorder” AND “newborn” AND “predict” AND “Southeast Asia”. Results: Of the 27 articles selected for the final analysis there are thirteen predictors of stunting in seven Southeast Asia countries. The thirteen predictors include the child, mother, home, inadequate complementary feeding, inadequate breastfeeding, inadequate care, poor quality foods, food and water safety, infection, political economy, health and healthcare, water, sanitation, and environment, and social culture factor. Conclusion: All these predictors can lead to stunting in Southeast Asia. To prevent it, health service providers and other related sectors need to carry out health promotion and health prevention according to the predictors found.

The management of urinary tract infection (UTI) in infants and children has changed significantly over the past few decades based on scientific evidence that questioned the efficacy of strategies used to prevent kidney injury and subsequent progression to chronic kidney disease, which is very unlikely in most paediatric cases. However, there is still substantial heterogeneity in its management and uncertainty regarding the diagnosis, indication of imaging tests, treatment or follow-up in these patients. The Spanish clinical practice guideline has been updated through the review of the literature published since 2009 and a rigorous evaluation of current clinical practice aspects, taking into account the evidence on the benefits of each intervention in addition to its risks and drawbacks to attempt to provide more precise recommendations. Resumen: En las últimas décadas, se han producido profundos cambios en el manejo de la infección urinaria en pediatría, a partir de estudios que cuestionaban la eficacia de las estrategias para prevenir el daño renal y la evolución posterior a enfermedad renal crónica, muy poco probable en la mayoría de casos. No obstante, todavía existe una gran variabilidad clínica en el manejo e incertidumbre en cuestiones relativas al diagnóstico, la indicación de una exploración radiológica, el tratamiento o el seguimiento de estos niños. La actualización de la guía de práctica clínica española ha examinado en la literatura publicada desde el año 2009 y de modo riguroso aspectos de la práctica actual, considerando la evidencia de los beneficios de cada intervención, junto con los riesgos asociados y desventajas, para intentar delimitar las pautas de actuación más precisas.

The article presents some analyzes of children's psychological development in the pandemic period in the context of Cuban society from a historical-cultural approach. From the methodology of clinical case studies that offers the possibility of a content analysis, the following results could be reached. The theoretical and methodological assumptions of a cultural-historical approach give us the possibility of scrutinizing objective and subjective conditions, surpassing empirical generalizations. The pandemic situation, causing a radical change in the way of relating, requires the organization of compensation mechanisms that allow promoting children's psychological development until after the confinement period has ended. The learnings extracted from these analyzes can help predict the future, shaped by interpersonal relationships in the digital environment, as occurred during the COVID-19 confinement.

Objective: Pediatric spondylodiscitis (PSD) is an uncommon condition, for which there are no specific international clinical guidelines. Factors related to complications have not been stablished. Our aim was to describe clinical and epidemiological characteristics of PSD, to analyze factors associated with complications and to evaluate adherence to the recommendations of the Spanish National Consensus Document (NCD) for the diagnostic and therapeutic approach to acute osteoarticular infections. Material and methods: Ambispective, multicenter, national study of two PSD cohorts: historical (2008–2012) and prospective (2015–2020, after publication of NCD).Patients with diagnosis of PSD were included. Demographic, clinical, microbiological and radiological data were recorded. Factors related to the development of complications were analized by logistic regression. Comparisons between both cohorts were performed. Results: Ninety-eight PSD were included. In 84.7%, diagnosis was confirmed by magnetic resonance imaging. Microbiological isolation was obtained in 6.1%, with methicillin-sensitive S. aureus as the main etiologic agent. Complications occurred in 18.9%, the most frequent being soft tissue abscess. Of the 8.6% of patients with sequelae, persistent pain was the most common. Comparing cohorts, there was better adherence to NCD treatment recommendations in the prospective one (57.6% vs. 12.9%, p

Abstract Children, or people under 18 years-old, represent 30% of the world population. While Childhood Studies gained attention in the last decades, in Brazil this topic remains incipient. In 2022 the Group of Studies on Childhoods and International Relations (GEIRI) mapped the open depositories for dissertations of Brazilian universities with IR programmes to understand how children appear as an IR issue. Using the framework of Global IR, this article presents two main contributions by analysing this novel data: a) ontological contribution by understanding Childhood Studies as a Global IR topic and Brazilian practices and interactions to see IR outside of a Western perspective and b) methodological contribution by analysing how students contribute to the IR knowledge production on Children and IR in Brazil mostly as international security and human rights issues.

Rapidly progressing multifaceted secularization processes in Polish society strongly influence the shape of religious education of children and adolescents in the school environment. They determine a number of dimensions of the social and mental activity of young people. Their effects are visible, es­pecially in the attitudes of children and youth to God, the Church, religious lessons, moral norms, and religious practices. This situation raises new challenges for the religious education of the young. Reading this as a “sign of the times,” this article revises religious education in Polish schools. The need to reor­ganize the model of religious education lessons and to introduce changes in the curricular assumptions of religious education teaching, in student textbooks and methodological guides is pointed out. Pre-evangelization and educational activities, resignation from the mere transfer of religious knowledge, and the development of preconceived skills and attitudes are considered important. The author emphasizes the value of providing opportunities for the construction of knowledge and for the student’s own en­gagement during religious education lessons. In this context, much attention is paid to the role of the re­ligious education teacher, who is to be first and foremost a companion on a journey, an educator and a witness of faith, open to new challenges, able to communicate effectively with students, creative, and tolerant. The right personality traits of the religious education teacher and their multiple competencies (including communicative and interpersonal ones) play a key role in religious education. They guarantee the effectiveness of communication within a group of religious lesson participants. They foster authentic interpersonal relationships and community-building, thus meeting the natural needs of young people. In practice, they require a paradigm shift in the formation of religious education teachers.

The aim of this article is to analyse the pedagogical response of Croatian ECEC teachers to the needs of preschool children in a disadvantaged situation. The quality of pedagogical practise to prevent unfavourable developmental trajectories in children in a disadvantaged situation, particularly in the Croatian system, is poorly researched. A vignette describing an imaginary child in a disadvantaged situation was used and 35 preschool teachers from 15 ECEC institutions described in writing in an online application how they would support the child in his or her development. The qualitative thematic analysis was conducted according to the five components of the strengths-based approach (relationships, empowerment, collaboration, strengths and focus on change). This approach assumes that through reciprocal relationships between children, parents and teachers, previously agreed goals are achieved and personal resources, motivation and belief in the possibility of achieving sustainable change are unleashed. The results show that ECEC teachers are predominantly oriented towards individual components of the strengths-based approach (quality of relationships, focus on children's strengths), while the implementation of the entire strengths-based approach in its entirety is lacking. It is emphasised that the strengths-based approach needs to be more strongly affirmed in Croatian ECEC system so that its principles are recognisable in the pedagogical practise of all ECEC teachers.

ABSTRACT Objective: To characterize the environmental factors of children and adolescents with Cerebral Palsy (CP) in the state of Minas Gerais (MG), Brazil. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study involving 164 caregivers of children/adolescents with CP, aged 1-14 years. The Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) and the Manual Ability Classification System (MACS) were used to classify the participants’ functioning, and environmental factors were evaluated by an on-line questionnaire that examined products and technologies, physical environment, services, and systems. A descriptive analysis was performed using percentage and frequency. Results: Most participants had bilateral CP (66.9%) and 45% of them were spastic. Levels II and V of the GMFCS and MACS were the most frequent. About half (49.4%) used anticonvulsants, 27.4% underwent botulinum toxin application, and 29% went through orthopedic surgery in the lower limbs. Among the participants, 71.3% used orthoses in the lower limbs, and 51.8% used the public health care system. Most had access to physiotherapy (91.5%), but found difficulties to access interventions with other professionals, such as psychologists (28%) and nutritionists (37.8%). The school was the most frequently adapted environment (78%), and had the highest level of structural adaptation (42.7%). Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that the barriers to access health services and barriers to the physical environment may impact participation and social inclusion.

Nasometry is a non-invasive, easy-to-use technique that provides objective data regarding the amount of acoustic energy in the oral and nasal cavities during speech. The goal of this study is to create a Spanish passage and determine normative nasalance values for typical Spanish-speaking children, 3 to 5 years of age, that allows us to compare the values in children of the same age who present hypernasality and velopharyngeal dysfunction. Second, to determine if there are significant differences in nasalance scores based on age or gender. Third, to test the impact of vowel load on nasalance scores. Data were collected from 130 children with no known speech, language, or hearing disorder. Participants were organized into three groups according to age. A nasometric assessment protocol for Spanish was developed based on an adaptation of the MacKay-Kummer Simplified Nasometric Assessment Procedures-Revised (SNAP-R; 2005). All participants were required to repeat the speech stimuli. Data were collected using the icSpeech nasometer and were recorded on EXCEL 365 sheets for further analysis. Normative data is now available for a Spanish version of the SNAP-R Test. No significant differences were found between the genders, but significant differences were found based on age. It was also found that a load of high and anterior vowels, especially the phoneme /i/, increased nasalance scores. This protocol created passages in Spanish that mimic the passages of the SNAP-R Test in English. These Spanish passages were normed for Spanish-speaking children. This study confirms that high vowels result in higher nasalance values and therefore, the vowel composition of a specific passage determines the nasalance score, not the language of the passage.

Plano-valgus foot is a common problem among children and adolescents. The problem is most often noticed in early childhood, as this is the period when the arches of the foot should achieve a normal structure through the disappearance of the fat pad that is present from birth. During this period, the child's skeletal system is very malleable and its remodelling can be considerably influenced by additional factors. This is due to the high amount of cartilage tissue present in a child's skeletal system. Plano-valgus foot can be treated with non-operative methods, such as physiotherapy or the use of orthopaedic supplies, such as suitable orthopaedic insoles. Unfortunately, non-operative treatment is not always sufficient. If physiotherapy does not achieve the expected results, a physician may opt for surgical treatment to restore a correct foot alignment. The most commonly performed plano-valgus foot procedure is subtalar arthroereisis. It is a minimally invasive procedure that takes approximately 10–30 minutes to perform. During the procedure, appropriate implants of various types and sizes are inserted into the tarsal sinus to reduce excessive foot pronation. Studies have shown that the procedure is beneficial to the patient, as it positions the foot correctly and children can return to performing physical activities without experiencing pain and/or rapid muscle fatigue in the foot area. The most commonly used measurements to assess the effects of plantar arthrodesis are those calculated from X-rays, such as Meary's angle, calcaneal inclination pitch angle (CP), talocalcaneal angle (Kite's angle), and surveys using The American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society’s (AOFAS’s) ankle and hindfoot scoring system.

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic brought about numerous changes. Access to health services was limited, and restrictions were imposed to prevent the spread of the disease. Consequently physical activity of children was limited due to their increased time at home, which could result in reduced physical performance and abnormal development. Aim: This study aimed to assess the access to physiotherapy and the use of telemedicine regarding children after subtalar arthroereisis surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic. Material and methods: Seventy-nine parents/guardians of children who underwent subtalar arthroereisis surgery at Chorzow Municipal Hospital Complex between May 2019 and May 2021 participated in the study. A self-administered questionnaire designed for the study was used as the research method. Results: The results showed that some respondents perceived the wait times at the National Health Service and the cost of private services as problems during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, increased problems associated with general access or course of treatment were not confirmed. Sixty-seven percent of respondents confirmed decreased physical activity in children due to the COVID-19 pandemic. One-third of parents noticed weight gain and muscle weakness in their children, while for 56% of respondents, the weight gain was not noticeable. In addition, more than 70% of the children had no complaints of pain. The results also showed that only 36.8% of respondents used telemedicine during the pandemic. Conclusions: The constraints imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic caused a decline in children’s physical activity; one-third of parents reported weight gain in their children. In addition, waiting times for physiotherapy reimbursed by the National Health Fund were long, and the cost of private physiotherapy was higher; it could not be confirmed whether more patients subsequently used telemedicine.

(1) Background: Parents of children with autism spectrum disorders often experience psychological distress, which can affect the quality of childcare they provide. It is crucial to screen for psychiatric symptoms among these parents. The core symptom index (CSI) is a widely recognized tool used to assess general symptoms, including depression, anxiety, and somatic issues. It has proven validity and reliability across diverse Thai populations. Given the cultural similarities between Thai and Chinese populations, the CSI has been successfully implemented within the Chinese population. Nevertheless, it is crucial to research its validity and reliability in the general Chinese population. This study aimed to investigate the psychometric properties of the Chinese version of the CSI among parents of children with autism spectrum disorders using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). (2) Methods: A total of 794 Chinese parents raising children with autism participated in this study. All completed the CSI, along with the social inhibition subscale of the Interpersonal Problems Inventory and the Couple Satisfaction Index. Factorial validity was assessed using CFA to determine how well the bifactor three-factor model fits the data. Various structural models were compared using model fit indices. Convergent and discriminant validity were examined by exploring correlations with the social inhibition subscale and the Couple Satisfaction Index. Invariance testing of the CSI was conducted across multiple groups based on gender, age, and education using CFA. The reliability of the CSI was evaluated using McDonald’s omega coefficients. (3) Results: The bifactor model emerged as the best-fitting model for the data, suggesting that the total score of the CSI adequately represents overall psychiatric symptoms. The CSI exhibited significant correlations with the social inhibition subscale (r = 0.41, p < 0.01) and smaller correlation coefficients with the Couple Satisfaction Index (r = −0.16, p < 0.05), indicating both convergent and discriminant validity. The invariant test results support scalar invariance levels based on gender and age but only partial invariance for education. The Chinese version of the CSI demonstrated high consistency, with McDonald’s omega coefficients ranging between 0.86 and 0.95. (4) Conclusions: The bifactor model of the Chinese version of the CSI is validated, making it a suitable tool for measuring depression, anxiety, and somatization symptoms among parent(s) of children with autism spectrum disorders. Further research on other Chinese populations is encouraged.

This text aims at discussing the way in which the school care for the kids of Acampamento Marielle Vive! camp happened, between March 2020 and July 2021, showing the difficulties aggravated by the Pandemic, between them: structural obstacles for carrying out school activities, caused by the lack of care by the State; the absence of corrections and monitoring by teachers; and the social-economic situation of the families, impaired by the unemployment's increase in the country. The investigation's methodology followed a qualitative approach based on: bibliographical sources, documents on the education policy from the city - decrees and other regulations on education in Valinhos during the referred period -, besides the general regulations of the education policy during the Pandemic, and interviews - carried out with the officials of the education sector at the camp, children's mothers, and people who act in the city's schools. It was possible to conclude that the necessity of self-organization occurred in parallel to the weaknesses in the school care of the municipality. In the face of all the challenges, the alternatives found by means of the mobilization of the education sector at the camp showed themselves to be effective at the care of the landless children, highlighting that the fact that they belong to a political organization as MST was decisive in the reaction during the Pandemic.

Online sexual grooming (a manipulative process in which the perpetrator locates a young person and creates an abusive relationship with the child that involves sexual exploitation) poses significant challenges to parents. This study examined how parents of adolescent victims of online sexual grooming experienced guiding their children through the event. This qualitative study, conducted in Israel, was based on semi-structured in-depth interviews with 15 parents who guided their adolescents who had been subjected to online sexual grooming. Results indicate that the parents reported a spectrum of emotions, from insecurity and guilt to a sense of control and satisfaction in managing the situation. Also, the reluctance of some parents to engage with the education system indicates potential trust issues. The study demonstrates the urgent need for targeted interventions to equip parents and educational professionals with the necessary knowledge for prevention and effective response to online sexual grooming. Implications for future research, policy, and practice are discussed.

Objective. Basic and translational research in pediatric cancer are essential to improve patient care. To critically assess the developments achieved in these areas in Latin America, we systematically reviewed information published between 2013 and 2023. Methods. Studies of basic and translational research performed by investigators in Latin America evaluating pediatric malignant solid and central nervous system tumors were retrieved from PubMed. Original articles published in English between 2013 and 2023 were included. Collaborations among Latin American authors or among Latin American authors working with researchers from other continents were also included. Studies were excluded if they focused only on adults or on basic research in tumor biology not specifically related to the tumor types analyzed in this review. Results. A total of 550 articles were retrieved, but after removal of duplicates, 514 articles were included in the analysis, the majority of which were authored by researchers affiliated with institutions in Argentina, Brazil and Mexico. These countries also had the highest number of collaborations on original articles published with authors from Europe and North America. Argentina had the highest number of collaborations on original publications, with coauthors from Brazil and Uruguay. The median impact factor of the 244 journals in which articles were published was 3.5. The most commonly studied tumors were osteosarcomas, neuroblastomas and medulloblastomas; the most commonly studied areas were molecular analysis, tumor cell biology and biomarkers. Conclusions. In Latin America, research in pediatric oncology is on the agenda, despite a notable disparity in publication rates and frequency of collaboration between countries. There is a need to strengthen scientific collaboration within Latin America and with countries from other continents to promote research and to develop novel treatment strategies that reflect the local needs of children in Latin America who have solid tumors and brain cancer.