Developmental theories of ethnocultural socialization (Incorporating the cultural value of respeto into a framework of Latino parenting. Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology, 16(1), 77-86; Traditional and culture-specific parenting of prosociality in U.S. Latino/as. Oxford handbook of parenting and moral development, Oxford University Press.) emphasize the importance of understanding how caregivers instill culturally grounded values adapted to specific cultural and environmental contexts to support positive youth development. Caregivers are deemed to transmit these cultural values to their youth via ethnic heritage practices, customs, rituals, and cultural experiences. Importantly, work based on these models has shown that specific cultural values significantly predict the health and well-being of Latine youth (Cultural values, empathy, and prosocial behavior among U.S. Latino/a youth: A mediation model. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 38(2), 521-540; Familism values and adjustment among Hispanic/Latino individuals: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Psychological Bulletin, 147(9), 947-985). Among the cultural values instilled by many Latine parents is bien educado, a concept that emphasizes the importance that youth be well-mannered, display positive social behaviors, and exhibit a strong moral character (Familismo, respeto, and bien educado: Traditional/cultural models and values in Latinos. Critical Cultural Studies of Childhood. Springer). While much of the prior research has focused on cultural values such as familismo and respeto, relatively little is known about the cultural value of bien educado. Indeed, no studies exist on how bien educado is conceptualized and taught by Latine mothers. To address this gap, focus group interviews were conducted to explore how Latine mothers of adolescents define and teach bien educado to their adolescents. Seventeen Latine mothers (Mage = 41.88 years, SD = 6.23) reporting on their adolescents (Mage = 14.97 years, SD = 3.55) participated. On average, mothers had two children and lived in the United States for approximately 21.6 years. The majority were of Mexican origin and predominantly Spanish-speaking (88%). Focus group interviews were conducted in Spanish and English using semi-structured questions designed to explore mothers' definitions, beliefs, and practices related to bien educado. The questions included: "What is your own definition of bien educado?" and "What are some things you do to teach your child to be bien educado?" All focus groups were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and trained; bilingual coders analyzed the transcripts using inductive thematic analysis (Qualitative inquiry and research design: Choosing among five approaches. SAGE Publications). Mothers conceptualized bien educado as encompassing four main aspects: respect, consideration for others, humility, and being well-mannered. Furthermore, mothers emphasized their intentionality to foster these traits in their youth and viewed the concept as a strength-based approach that contributed positively to their youth's moral development. The findings reveal that bien educado is a multidimensional cultural value construct and a Latine culturally-relevant parenting goal. Specifically, the findings highlight the central elements of bien educado as respect, consideration for others, being well-mannered, and humility. Given the centrality of these four elements in prosocial and moral development (The development and correlates of prosocial moral behaviors. Handbook of moral development. Psychology Press.), the present findings situate bien educado as a Latine-grounded value that can further our understanding of U.S. Latine youth prosocial and moral development. Moreover, the findings demonstrate the need to incorporate this understudied core Latine cultural value into sociocultural- and ecological-grounded parental socialization models and future research in U.S. Latine youth.
Adolescent and young adult mothers investigated by child welfare experience multiple challenges, including high concentrations of poverty, housing instability, social isolation, mental health issues, and intimate partner violence (IPV). However, little is known about the lived experiences of young mothers involved with the child welfare system who have also encountered IPV. This study begins to address this gap by analyzing interview data of young mothers who had child welfare involvement in Ontario while pregnant or parenting and who noted experiencing IPV (n = 10). Interpretative phenomenological analysis was used to understand their understanding and perspectives of their involvement with child welfare. Three themes related to this dual experience were identified. First, young mothers described being threatened with referral or being referred to child welfare by their former abusive partner as an additional method to exert control. Second, young mothers believed they were scrutinized for concerns related to the child's father and his abusive behavior, rather than their own parenting abilities. Lastly, some believed that being in foster care during childhood increased their vulnerability to both IPV and child welfare involvement once they became parents. These findings suggest that child welfare workers should thoroughly check the referral source and may benefit from additional IPV training and use trauma-informed approaches when working with young mothers who are survivors of IPV. There is a need to improve the ways in which youth are supported while transitioning out of the child welfare system, to decrease their vulnerability to experiencing IPV and future child welfare involvement.
To examine the impact of one-to-one peer support on mothers' personal breastfeeding goals. Scoping review guided by Arksey and O'Malley's five-stage framework and reported in accordance with PRISMA-ScR guidelines. Qualitative data were analysed using descriptive content analysis. Quantitative data were analysed by identifying numerical trends and recurring patterns, and a concise overview of key descriptive findings was provided using frequency counts and proportions. Studies conducted across 10 countries globally, identified through systematic searches of seven electronic databases and screening of reference lists. Thirty-eight studies were included: 20 quantitative, 7 qualitative, 6 mixed-methods, and three secondary analyses (drawing on two relevant primary sources). Participants were mothers who received one-to-one breastfeeding peer support, predominantly in community or home-based settings. One primary outcome was assessed: The impact of one-to-one peer support on mothers' personal breastfeeding goals. Two secondary outcomes were identified. The first examined the effect of one-to-one peer support on breastfeeding outcomes based on traditional measures of breastfeeding success. Of the included studies, 50% reported positive effects of one-to-one peer support on traditional measures of breastfeeding success, while 21% found no statistically significant differences. An additional secondary outcome reported in 34% of the included studies examined the impact of mother-centred breastfeeding peer support on maternal emotional well-being. One-to-one peer support enhances the mothers' ability to achieve their personal breastfeeding goals and positively influences emotional well-being. These findings underscore the need to integrate structured one-to-one peer support into maternal health services in Ireland and globally.
Working with others is an essential skill for everyday life. Interpersonal neural synchrony (INS) has been suggested as a potential neurobiological correlate of collaboration between parents and school-aged children. This study investigated whether interpersonal neural synchrony (measured using Wavelet Transform Coherence) is also a correlate of collaboration in young children, whose collaborative skills are still emerging. Data were collected from N = 20 mother-child dyads with children aged 24-36 months old (mean age 30.15 months) using an fNIRS hyperscanning paradigm. Mothers and their children built Lego Duplo structures collaboratively and individually (separated by a curtain). Dyads showed neural coherence in different regions of the brain when building together and separately, possibly reflecting continued representations of their partner's actions, even when they could not see them. Greater neural coherence was found between the children's left prefrontal cortex (PFC) and the mothers' right temporoparietal junction (TPJ) while working collaboratively. However, during the Individual condition, coherence was significantly greater between the children's right PFC and the mothers' left TPJ. Furthermore, dyads were more likely to show overall greater neural coherence during the Individual than in the Collaboration condition if a second researcher was present in the testing session. This study demonstrates how INS can help us understand how mothers and children jointly engage in collaborative tasks. It also suggests a potential influence of others on mother-child INS, which has not yet been explored.
Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) are a leading cause of maternal and perinatal morbidity, yet data on their burden among adolescent mothers in Sub-Saharan Africa are limited. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of HDP and their association with birth outcomes among adolescent mothers at Livingstone University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) in Zambia. We conducted a retrospective cross-sectional study of 405 medical records of adolescent pregnancies (aged 10-19 years) at LUTH from January 2023 to December 2024. HDP was defined as systolic/diastolic blood pressure ≥ 140/90 mmHg after 20 weeks of gestation. Data were abstracted using REDCap and analyzed with StatCrunch. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression identified factors associated with HDP. Bivariate analyses examined associations with birth outcomes. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. The prevalence of HDP was 16.8% (68/405). In multivariable analysis, increasing age (AOR = 1.31 per year, 95% CI: 1.06-1.63, p = 0.012), a previous history of hypertension (AOR = 1.77, 95% CI: 1.19-2.62, p = 0.005), and a positive family history of chronic hypertension (AOR = 3.89, 95% CI: 1.03-14.61, p = 0.044) were independent predictors. HDP was significantly associated with adverse birth outcomes (p = 0.014), particularly fetal death (46.2% vs. 16.1% among normotensive). Hypertensive adolescents had higher rates of preeclampsia (86.4% vs. 12.8%, p < 0.001), eclampsia (100% vs. 16%, p < 0.001), and fetal complications, including asphyxia (34.5% vs. 14.6%, p = 0.013) and prematurity (23.5% vs. 14.6%). HDP affect nearly one in six adolescent mothers at a Zambian tertiary hospital and are strongly associated with adverse birth outcomes. Older age, prior hypertension, and family history of chronic hypertension are independent predictors. Enhanced antenatal risk assessment, including detailed personal and family history, age-stratified monitoring, and routine proteinuria screening, is urgently needed to improve maternal and neonatal outcomes in this high-risk population.
Guided by a lifespan developmental perspective, using a network analysis approach, this study compared the structure of daily stress components in mothers of adolescents and adults with developmental disabilities (DD) and a matched sample of mothers of children without DD. We also examined whether components of daily stress were differentially associated with subsequent depression symptoms. Participants (N = 516; 100% female; M = 54.52 years, SD = 10.21; 94.2% White) were drawn from two cohorts: a DD cohort constructed from two linked longitudinal studies of families of adolescents and adults with autism and fragile X syndrome and a comparison group from the Midlife in United States study. Participants completed an 8-day daily telephone interview and reported depressive symptoms two years later. Findings demonstrated that the daily stress network of mothers of individuals with DD was significantly more interconnected than that of the comparison group. Stressor risk appraisal emerged as a central node in both groups, highlighting the role of cognitive appraisal in shaping stress responses. Negative affective reactivity linked daily stress components with later depressive symptoms, particularly in the DD group. Chronic caregiving stress may heighten interconnectivity within daily stress networks, reducing psychological flexibility and increasing vulnerability to daily stressors.
Maternal bonding refers to the unique emotional connection between a mother and her baby that gradually develops during the peripartum period. However, 3-24% of women report bonding problems (BP), often accompanied by constraints for the mother-infant relationship, but not always depression, with consequences for child development. Our present study investigates the neural and behavioral patterns that underlie the processing of emotional infant stimuli at 3 months postpartum, with an additional exploratory perspective over the 1st year postpartum parallel to a neurofeedback intervention that took place between 3 and 6 months postpartum. Mothers with and without BP (N = 45) completed a newly developed Emotional Infant GoNoGo Task during fMRI scanning at 3, 6 and 12 months postpartum. Our results show that response inhibition towards emotional infant faces elicits stronger results than towards adult faces in all mothers, on a neural as well as on a behavioral level. The neural responses to emotional infant faces as compared to neutral faces are increased at 3 months postpartum in limbic structures such as the anterior cingulate and insula, as well as nucleus caudatus, indicating altered emotion processing in mothers with postpartum bonding problems. Explorative and preliminary analyses for 6 and 12 months postpartum found differences in neural and behavioral reactions between BP and healthy controls increase at 6 months and decrease again at 12 months, may point to an experience-based adaptive process of infant emotion processing in mothers with BP during the first year postpartum. Clinical prevention and intervention strategies for mothers with postpartum BP should therefore focus on emotion processing and regulation capacities, particularly during the first months postpartum.
Families could benefit from remote parent training programs. However, the comparative effectiveness of online self-directed versus facilitator-delivered telehealth for families with varying characteristics remains unclear. This study examined whether baseline child mental health symptoms moderate parental response to two remote delivery formats of a parenting intervention for military families. A sample of 149 families with a 4- to 12-year-old child and at least one parent deployed post-9/11 participated in a 14-week After Deployment, Adaptive Parenting Tools parenting intervention. The intervention was delivered postdeployment and focused on strengthening parenting to support child adjustment. Families were randomly assigned to one of two remote formats. Both fathers and mothers were invited to participate and independently reported their child's externalizing and internalizing symptoms at baseline. Observed parenting practices were assessed at baseline and at 1-year follow-up. Separate moderation models were conducted for fathers and mothers. For mothers and fathers, baseline child externalizing behavior moderated the effect of delivery format on parenting practices at 1 year. At high symptom levels, telehealth had a greater impact on parenting practices than the online self-directed format. At low symptom levels, both formats produced similar improvements in parenting practices for fathers, while online self-directed delivery had a greater impact than telehealth format for mothers reporting low child externalizing symptoms. Parents reporting higher child symptoms benefit most from a facilitator-delivered telehealth parent training, whereas online self-directed training appears adequate for lower child symptoms. These findings suggest that tailoring delivery format based on family needs may optimize the effectiveness of parent programs. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).
This study examined gender-specific, process-oriented associations between parent-adolescent closeness and adolescent depressive symptoms using three-wave data from the China Family Panel Study (2018: pre-pandemic; 2020: pandemic outbreak; 2022: post-pandemic). Participants included 841 girls (Mage = 14.99 years in 2018, SD = 2.04, 87.2% Han ethnicity) and 939 boys (Mage = 14.89 years, SD = 1.99, 87.1% Han ethnicity). Bivariate latent change score models revealed that lower closeness consistently predicted subsequent greater increases in depression, regardless of the gender of parent or adolescent. However, prior higher adolescent depression predicted greater decreases in closeness only in the father-son relationship. Some of these effects were moderated by developmental age. These findings highlight the enduring protective effect of closeness and suggest a unique vulnerability in father-son relationships when boys experience depression across the pandemic period. This study examined how parent–adolescent closeness and adolescents' depressive symptoms relate to each other's changes before and after the COVID-19 pandemic (2018–2022) in China. We found that adolescents who felt less close to their parents became more depressed over time. When boys felt more depressed, they later felt less close to their fathers, but not their mothers. When girls felt more depressed, they later felt closer to their mothers, but not their fathers. These findings suggest that fathers may pull away from sons when they are struggling emotionally, whereas mothers often move closer to daughters. Overall, the study shows that parent–child relationships are crucial for adolescents' emotional well-being, especially during stressful times such as the pandemic.
We comprehensively identified the challenges associated with psychotropic-medication use during breastfeeding in Japan and explored strategies to enhance breastfeeding support. We analyzed breastfeeding-consultation records of cases involving postpartum mothers received by the Japan Drug Information Institute in Pregnancy (JDIIP) between February 2012 and March 2022, and corresponding questionnaire responses regarding the use of psychotropic medications. The "Perinatal Mental Health Consensus Guide" was used as a benchmark to examine temporal trends. To assess changes in consultation patterns over time, the study period was divided into a pre-publication (2012-2016) and post-publication phase (2017-2022). 7,863 breastfeeding consultations were analyzed. Before and after the guide's publication, no significant difference was observed in the proportion related to mental disorders. Among consultations involving mental disorders, psychiatrists were the most common healthcare providers from whom advice had been sought before consultation, before and after the guide's publication, followed by obstetricians. Although approximately half of the healthcare providers had previously indicated that medication use during breastfeeding was possible, the proportion advising mothers to discontinue breastfeeding while taking psychotropic medications decreased after the guide's publication. Most mothers were prescribed multiple medications, with benzodiazepines being the most frequently discussed. However, the proportion of such consultations decreased significantly after the guide's publication. Consultations with specialized counseling agencies regarding psychotropic medication use during breastfeeding occurred at a consistent frequency regardless of guideline dissemination. While the guidelines' publication appears to have influenced healthcare providers' awareness, further examination is necessary to determine how best to provide information supporting breastfeeding.
The Northern Territory (NT) of Australia has high reported rates of both preterm birth and childhood respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infections. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between preterm birth and risk of RSV-associated acute lower respiratory infection (RSV-ALRI) hospital admission among NT infants during their first year of life. A retrospective, population-based cohort study of NT mother-infant pairs from 2008 to 2017. Preterm birth was defined as gestation < 37 weeks. RSV-ALRI hospitalisations were identified using ICD-10-AM codes (J12.1, J20.5, J21.0, or J09-J22 plus B97.4). Risk of RSV-ALRI in preterm infants was assessed using generalised linear regression to calculate risk ratios (RR). A multivariable risk model adjusted for all available maternal, perinatal, and infant characteristics. Temporal trends in hospitalisation incidence were assessed using negative binomial regression. Overall, 10% (3839/39148) of infants were born preterm, and 2% (846/39148) were hospitalised with RSV-ALRI. Preterm infants (4%) had twice the risk of RSV-ALRI compared to term infants (2%) (risk ratio [RR] 2.26, 95% CI 1.90-2.69; adjusted RR 1.72, 95% CI 1.43-2.08), with the highest risk among those born < 32 weeks' gestation (7%). Elevated risks were also observed in First Nations infants (4.5%), infants of young mothers aged < 19 years (4.9%), those living in very remote Central desert regions (7.1%), and infants of mothers who had a urinary tract infection during pregnancy (5.1%). The episode-based RSV-ALRI hospitalisation rate was 2.3 per 100 child-years, declining steadily across the decade of observation (incidence rate ratio [IRR] 0.90 per year, 95% CI 0.86-0.94). Preterm birth is an independent and significant risk factor for infant RSV hospitalisation in Australia's NT. Other important risk factors include younger maternal age, residence in remote or Central desert regions, maternal urinary tract infection (UTI) during pregnancy, and male sex. RSV immunisation strategies will be crucial in protecting high-risk infants in the NT and elsewhere.
To describe factors influencing caregiver engagement in pediatric care management. This qualitative descriptive study of family engagement was based in the North Carolina Integrated Care for Kids (NC InCK) care management model. NC InCK proactively offers assistance with healthcare coordination and health-related social needs to Medicaid-insured children in five North Carolina counties. Participants were randomly recruited from three cohorts with different levels of engagement (never engaged, briefly engaged, and retained) and participated in semi-structured virtual interviews to understand barriers and facilitators to both enrollment and retention in care management. Cross-cohort themes were identified using rapid qualitative analysis. Interviews were conducted between May 2024 and January 2025 with 50 NC InCK-eligible English-speaking families. Most participants were mothers (n = 38, 74%) and grandmothers (n = 6, 12%) of non-Hispanic Black children (n = 32, 64%). Initial enrollment facilitators included clear, genuine explanations of care management tailored to family needs. Enrollment obstacles included high caregiver self-reliance, confusion around program scope, and negative prior experiences with social service programs. Retention facilitators included flexible scheduling, convenient communication, and strong interpersonal relationships with care managers. Retention obstacles included competing demands, communication challenges, evolution of family needs, and misalignment between caregiver expectations and services. Post-interview, 32% of briefly engaged and 73% of never engaged participants requested re-enrollment in the NC InCK model. Care management is a fundamental pediatric population health strategy, but low family engagement limits large-scale implementation and impact. Strategies to increase participation include clear messaging and simplified eligibility criteria to effectively convey care management benefits. Strong care manager communication skills are needed to build relationships with caregivers from varied backgrounds. Evolving family needs and bandwidth necessitate flexible care management options rather than a one-size-fits-all model.
Leprosy remains a significant public health challenge in endemic regions, particularly among vulnerable populations. Immune dysregulation and community health factors, including environmental conditions and socio-economic status, may play a crucial role in the transmission and progression of the disease. This study aims to estimate the magnitude of the effects of immune dysregulation and community health status on the occurrence of leprosy among mothers and children in endemic areas. A cross-sectional study was conducted. This study collected patient data from mothers and children with leprosy in endemic regions and non-leprosy subjects in endemic and non-endemic areas. This involved assessing immune dysregulation, focusing on T helper 1 (Th1; interferon-γ [IFN-γ]), T helper 2 (Th2; interleukin-4 [IL-4]), regulatory T cells (Treg; forkhead box P3 [FoxP3+]), and T helper 17 (Th17; interleukin-17 [IL-17]) markers. Because immune parameters were available only in a sub-sample, these variables were incorporated into the structural equation modelling as exploratory immune constructs. Community health status was evaluated through maternal nutrition, household environment, family education, economic status, household smoking habits, village endemicity, presence of Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) scars in children, access to healthcare, and perinatal risk factors. The results were analysed using IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows (version 26.0, IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA), and SmartPLS 4 (SmartPLS GmbH, Bönningstedt, Germany). One hundred six subjects were included in this study. Path analysis revealed significant effects within the studied factors. The health environment had a significant negative impact on village endemicity (β=-0.294; P<0.001). Leprosy in the family was significantly influenced by health environment (β=0.146; P<0.001), family education (β=-0.289; P<0.001), family economic status (β=-0.237; P<0.001), smoking in the family (β=0.191; P<0.001), access to health facilities (β=-0.051; P<0.001), and village endemicity (β=0.305; P<0.001). Mother immunity was significantly influenced by village endemicity (β=0.138; P<0.001), leprosy in the family (β=-0.554; P<0.001), maternal nutritional status (β=0.191; P<0.001), and maternal BCG scar (β=-0.149; P<0.001), which was noteworthy but should be interpreted cautiously. Child immunity was significantly affected by village endemicity (β=-0.148; P<0.001), leprosy in the family (β=-0.280; P<0.001), mother immunity (β=-0.156; P<0.001), child BCG scar (β=-0.021; P<0.001), perinatal risk (β=0.067; P<0.001), and mother leprosy (β=0.429; P<0.001). Maternal leprosy was significantly influenced by maternal immunity (β=-0.208; P<0.001). Finally, Child leprosy was significantly affected by mother immunity (β=0.441; P<0.001), child immunity (β=-0.374; P<0.001), and mother leprosy (β=-0.165; P<0.001). This study highlights the intricate interplay between immune dysregulation and community health factors in the occurrence of leprosy. These findings underscore the need for targeted interventions to address these factors and reduce leprosy prevalence.
Pregnant women and young children bear the highest burden of malaria morbidity/mortality. While transplacental transfer of malaria antibodies protects the child, the efficiency varies by antigen and maternal factors. This systematic review assessed transplacental transfer of malaria antibodies, factors associated with reduced transfer and identified knowledge gaps for future research. We searched PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science and HINARI from the inception of databases until January 2025. We included published articles reporting anti-malaria antibodies in the mother and newborn, placental transfer and factors associated with reduced transplacental transfer of antibodies against malaria antigen. Two independent reviewers conducted the selection of articles, data extraction and risk of bias assessment. Meta-analyses of malaria prevalence were performed on the peripheral blood of mothers, on the placenta, and on the cord blood of newborns. Forty-two studies (n=8687 pregnant women and newborns) were included in the analysis. Twelve studies reported the prevalence of malaria among mothers detected peripherally, 13 for placental malaria, and five studies for newborns. The pooled prevalence of peripheral and placental malaria was found to be 31.27% (95%CI: 24.9, 38.45), and 30.65% (95%CI: 20.29, 43.43), respectively. The pooled prevalence of malaria in the newborn was 9.53% (95%CI: 4.18, 20.29). IgG1 and IgG3 against malaria antigen were the predominant IgG that placentally transferred efficiently. IgG against circumsporozoite protein was more transferred to the newborn than those against the merozoite surface protein 3. Factors such as HIV infection, placental malaria, hypergammaglobulinemia in mothers, low birth weight, and primigravida were associated with reduced maternal transfer of antibodies against malaria antigen to newborns. Maternal transfer of antibodies against malaria antigen to newborns was IgG subclass and antigen-dependent. Vaccination strategies promoting high potential of transplacental transfer in pregnant women may enhance child protection against severe malaria. https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/view/CRD42024609217, identifier CRD42024609217.
mother-to-child transmission of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) remains a significant contributor to pediatric HIV infections in Kenya despite expanded prevention services. Persistent gaps along the prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) cascade continue to undermine elimination efforts. we conducted a retrospective, unmatched case-control study using routinely collected PMTCT data from selected health facilities in Kilifi County, Kenya. The cases were HIV-positive mothers whose HIV-exposed infants tested HIV-positive by deoxyribonucleic acid polymerase chain reaction (DNA PCR), while controls were HIV-positive mothers whose infants tested HIV-negative during the same period. Maternal and infant PMTCT cascade indicators were assessed. Associations between PMTCT service uptake and infant HIV status were examined using chi-square tests and multivariable logistic regression. a total of 161 mother-infant pairs were included (59 cases and 101 controls). Failure to attend antenatal care, lack of maternal antiretroviral therapy (ART) during pregnancy, non-disclosure of HIV status, and home delivery were significantly associated with infant HIV infection. Maternal ART uptake during pregnancy was the strongest protective factor against vertical transmission (adjusted odds ratio 30.23; 95% CI: 7.56-120.96). missed opportunities along the PMTCT cascade, particularly poor antenatal care (ANC) attendance and delayed or absent maternal ART, remain key drivers of residual mother-to-child HIV transmission in Kilifi County. Strengthening retention, timely ART initiation, and continuity of care across the PMTCT cascade is critical to achieving elimination of vertical HIV transmission.
Food protein-induced allergic proctocolitis (FPIAP) is a common allergic disease in the clinic. Despite being the diagnostic gold-standard method, the avoidance-provocation test has certain limitations that hinder its clinical applications. Detection of peripheral blood cells has emerged as an important research hotspot because of its relative methodological simplicity. Platelets and eosinophils play an important role in allergic diseases, but relevant studies on newborns with FPIAP remain scarce. The purpose of this study was to investigate the changes of eosinophil and platelet levels in children with allergic enteritis, and to explore its application value in the differential diagnosis of newborns with FPIAP. This retrospective study included 41 newborns with FPIAP admitted to The Affiliated Yangming Hospital of Ningbo University from December 2022 to December 2024 and 80 healthy newborns who underwent physical examination during the same period as controls. Data of all selected newborns and their mothers were collected from their medical records. The morning venous blood samples of the two groups were collected. White blood cell count, neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils, basophils, platelets and hemoglobin were detected using an automatic blood cell analyzer. Logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the risk factors of newborns with FPIAP. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to analyze the diagnostic value of these blood parameters for newborns with FPIAP. The results showed that eosinophils and platelets in the FPIAP group were significantly higher than those in the control group (p < 0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that elevated levels of eosinophils and platelets were risk factors for newborns with FPIAP (p < 0.05). The combined detection of peripheral blood platelet and eosinophil counts yielded an area under the ROC curve of 0.862 for the diagnosis of FPIAP in newborns, with a specificity of 0.825 and a sensitivity of 0.805. Newborns with FPIAP feature increased eosinophil and platelet counts, which provide an invaluable diagnostic reference for the allergic disease when used in combination.
Although the family stress model has received extensive empirical attention, little is known about how these processes might occur at the daily level and when considering both mother-child and father-child dyads. Data included 136 mothers' and 59 fathers' daily reports of their perceptions of daily financial stress, negative marital interactions, and oppositional parent-child conflict during early middle childhood. Reports were collected through online surveys for 7 consecutive days. Multilevel structural equation modeling indicated that at the within-person level, mother-reported financial stress was positively related to mother-child oppositional conflict qualities through mother-reported negative marital interactions. Father-reported financial stress was related to their same-day negative marital interactions. At the between-person level, mother-reported negative marital interactions were positively related to mother-child oppositional conflict characteristics. These findings contribute innovative information regarding the spillover effect from parental stressful experiences to their interactions with other family members in daily context and reveal unique processes in different family dyads' daily lives. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).
BackgroundRural women in climate-vulnerable regions face intersecting health risks from environmental stressors, gendered labor roles, and limited access to health services. Understanding how men and women perceive climate change is critical for designing interventions that protect women's health and well-being.ObjectivesTo examine gendered perspectives on climate change among smallholder farmers in rural Pakistan and explore how these perspectives influence health-related risks and adaptive capacity, with a focus on implications for women's health.DesignThis study employed a cross-sectional Q-methodology design to identify shared and divergent viewpoints within and between male and female participant groups.MethodsThirty participants (10 women and 20 men) from South Punjab, Pakistan, provided written informed consent. They sorted 48 statements into a forced quasi-normal distribution from "most disagree" to "most agree." These individual sorts were analyzed, through PCA and varimax rotation, for identifying shared perspectives ('Factors' in Q terminology) separately for men and women. The qualitative interpretation of the factors was based on most (dis-) agreed upon, distinguishing and consensus statements.ResultsWomen's factors, such as Structural Health Vulnerability and Fatalistic Resilience, emphasized infrastructural deficits, funding gaps, and health risks to food systems and livestock, linking adaptation capacity to systemic reforms. Men's factors, including Optimistic Techno-Adaptation and Economically Worried, Techno-Faithful, displayed greater confidence in technological and market-driven solutions, though often overlooking structural constraints.ConclusionGendered framings of climate change reveal distinct implications for women's health in rural Pakistan. Women's perspectives emphasize systemic barriers that heighten vulnerability, underscoring the need for interventions that integrate climate adaptation with women's health programs. Addressing faith-based framings, economic insecurity, and infrastructure gaps can improve the design of culturally resonant, gender-sensitive health interventions. This study looks at how women and men farmers in rural Pakistan understand climate change and what they believe is needed to protect health, especially women farmers’ health. We spoke with smallholder farmers in South Punjab and asked them to rank statements about climate change, its causes, effects, and possible responses, allowing us to see where views overlap and where they differ. Women often described climate change as part of daily life (hotter days, shifting rainfall, sick animals, rising costs, and more pressure on food and care work) and highlighted barriers to adaptation such as poor roads and clinics, slow or missing support, and limited access to timely information, with many linking these problems directly to risks for mothers and children. Men showed a wider mix of views: some placed hope in technology and markets, others felt climate change is in God’s hands or that current impacts are manageable; these perspectives were less likely to focus on the structural barriers raised by women. Faith mattered for both groups, providing strength and meaning for some, but reducing the urgency to act for others. For policy and practice, climate plans should be designed with women, not just for them, and should invest in local health services, nutrition support, early warning systems, and usable information while respecting cultural and faith perspectives and improving access to resources and decision-making. By addressing both daily needs and broader system barriers, communities can build fairer and healthier paths to climate resilience.
Parents of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) are more likely to exhibit subclinical autistic characteristics, commonly described as the Broad Autism Phenotype (BAP). This study examines whether the WAIS-R verbal-performance discrepancy and total range scores are associated with social skill deficits in parents of children with ASD, considering sex differences. This case-control study included 24 parents of children with ASD without psychopathology and 28 healthy controls. Participants underwent a structured diagnostic interview (SCID-5-CV) and completed the Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ). Verbal, performance and total range scores were calculated based on the difference between the highest and lowest subtest scores. Parents of children with ASD exhibited significantly higher AQ social skills subscale and total scores than controls. Fathers had significantly higher verbal range scores than controls, whereas no significant differences were found in mothers. Logistic regression revealed that each 1-point increase in verbal range was associated with a 55.7% higher likelihood (p = 0.032) of belonging to the ASD-parent group among fathers. An optimal cut-off score of 7.5 was identified, with 58.3% sensitivity and 71.4% specificity for distinguishing fathers in the ASD-parent group from controls. Verbal IQ range may represent a potential cognitive marker associated with BAP traits, particularly social skill difficulties, in fathers of children with ASD. However, larger studies are needed to further clarify its clinical significance.
The gut microbiota plays a crucial role in infant nutrition through its effects on energy metabolism, nutrient absorption, and immune regulation. However, evidence from Indonesian infants remains limited. This study aimed to examine the association between genus-level gut microbiota abundance and weight-for-age z scores (WAZ) among 6-month-old infants in coastal Banggai District, Central Sulawesi, Indonesia. We conducted a nested follow-up cross-sectional observational analysis of 88 six-month-old infants, including 42 (47.7%) who were born to mothers who were assigned to receive Moringa oleifera enriched with royal jelly group and 46 (52.3%) who were assigned to receive a multiple micronutrient supplement in a previous maternal supplementation trial. Maternal and infant characteristics were collected via structured interviews and standardized anthropometric measurements. WAZ was calculated using the World Health Organization Child Growth Standards, and underweight (WAZ <-2 SD) was reported as a secondary indicator. Stool samples were analyzed using genus-specific quantitative polymerase chain reaction to quantify Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus, Bacteroides, Clostridium, and Escherichia coli (log10 colony-forming unit/mL). Associations between bacterial abundance and WAZ were assessed using multivariable linear regression adjusted for maternal supplementation allocation and relevant maternal, environmental, and infant covariates. The pooled mean WAZ was -0.47 (SD 1.09), and 8% (7/88) of the infants were underweight. The combined abundance of beneficial genera was higher than that of opportunistic bacteria (E coli and Clostridium; Wilcoxon signed-rank test; P=.002). Higher Clostridium abundance was inversely associated with WAZ (unadjusted β=-.094, 95% CI -0.173 to -0.015; P=.02; adjusted β=-.091, 95% CI -0.172 to -0.010; P=.03). No statistically significant associations were observed for Bifidobacterium (P=.13), Lactobacillus (P=.19), Bacteroides (P=.70), or E coli (P=.18) in adjusted models. Among 6-month-old infants in coastal Central Sulawesi, higher genus-level Clostridium abundance was independently associated with lower WAZ. Given the cross-sectional design and genus-level quantitative polymerase chain reaction assessment, temporality and species-level mechanisms cannot be established. Longitudinal studies using more comprehensive microbiome profiling are warranted to clarify potential pathways linking gut microbiota and early-life growth.