Sensory integration intervention and the development of the premature infant: A controlled trial

Background. Premature infants are at risk of sensory processing difficulties and developmental delays due to an immature central nervous system and possible episodes of medical instability, discomfort, pain and stress during the first weeks or months after birth.Objective. To investigate the effect of Ayres Sensory Integration (ASI) on the development of premature infants in the first 12 months of life.Methods. A pre-/post-test experimental design was used to randomly divide 24 premature infants from a low socioeconomic setting in Bloemfontein, South Africa, into experimental and control groups after being matched by corrected age and gender. Developmental status was determined with the Bayley III Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, the Test of Sensory Functions in Infants and the Infant/ Toddler Sensory Profile. The experimental group received 10 weeks of ASI intervention.Results. ASI intervention had a positive effect on the sensory processing and development of premature infants, especially in terms of cognitive, language and motor development.Conclusions. ASI intervention at an early age enhances the developmental progress of premature infants

Four-year stability of anthropometric and cardio-metabolic parameters in a prospective cohort of older adults

Aim: To examine the medium-term stability of anthropometric and cardio-metabolic parameters in the general population. Materials & methods: Participants were 5160 men and women from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (age ≥50 years) assessed in 2004 and 2008. Anthropometric data included height, weight, BMI and waist circumference. Cardio-metabolic parameters included blood pressure, serum lipids (total cholesterol, HDL, LDL, triglycerides), hemoglobin, fasting glucose, fibrinogen and C-reactive protein. Results: Stability of anthropometric variables was high (all intraclass correlations >0.92), although mean values changed slightly (-0.01 kg weight, +1.33 cm waist). Cardio-metabolic parameters showed more variation: correlations ranged from 0.43 (glucose) to 0.81 (HDL). The majority of participants (71–97%) remained in the same grouping relative to established clinical cut-offs. Conclusion: Over a 4-year period, anthropometric and cardio-metabolic parameters showed good stability. These findings suggest that when no means to obtain more recent data exist, a one-time sample will give a reasonable approximation to average levels over the medium-term, although reliability is reduced

Parental control over feeding in infancy. Influence of infant weight, appetite and feeding method

Background and objective: Parental control over feeding has been linked to child overweight. Parental control behaviours have been assumed to be exogenous to the child, but emerging evidence suggests they are also child-responsive. This study tests the hypothesis that parental control in early infancy is responsive to infant appetite and weight. Subjects and methods: Participants were 1920 mothers from the Gemini twin cohort, using one randomly selected child per family. Data come from questionnaires completed when the children were approximately 8 months. Mothers completed measures of ‘pressure’ and ‘restriction’, reported feeding method (breast- and bottle feeding), rated their infant's appetite during the first 3 months, provided health professional recorded weight measurements, and reported their concerns about their infant's weight. Logistic regression examined predictors of ‘pressure’ and ‘restriction’, adjusting for maternal demographics and BMI. Interactions between feeding method and control were also tested. Results: ‘Pressure’ was associated with lower birth weight (OR = 0.79, 95% CI: 0.65–0.97), greater concern about underweight (OR = 1.88, 1.29–2.75), and lower infant appetite (OR = 0.59, 0.47–0.75). ‘Restriction’ was associated with higher appetite (OR = 1.44, 1.09–1.89) and bottle feeding (OR = 2.86, 2.18–3.75). A significant interaction with feeding method indicated that infants with high appetites were more likely to be restricted only if they were bottle-fed (OR = 1.52, 1.13–2.04). Conclusion: Mothers vary in their levels of control over milk-feeding and this is partly responsive to the infant's characteristics. They tend to pressure infants who are lighter and have a smaller appetite, and restrict infants with larger appetites if they are bottle-fed. Guidance on infant feeding may be better received if it acknowledges that parents respond to infant characteristics in order to achieve their feeding goals

Effective Health Care and Global Pandemic Preparedness. Policy paper for G20

Well-functioning health systems are a pre-requisite for achieving Sustainable Development Goal 3 (SDG 3) Good Health and Wellbeing. The COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated that the global health system should become more effective and equitable. The World Health Organization (WHO) serves as a vital resource for countries to enhance their national public health systems, and as a catalyst and enabler of multilateral cooperation for addressing global health-related threats. This policy paper proposes several key recommendations that, in the view of an expert panel, could be implemented in the near term to further strengthen and empower the WHO

Strengthening the UN to Confront Collective Challenges. Policy paper for G20

A sustainable, efficient, and thriving modern global multilateral system needs a functional and proactive the United Nations (UN). The UN represents the hopes and aspirations of millions of people around the world for a better life. Consequently, it is imperative that the UN is fully capable of setting and executing the required collective global multilateral agenda. This objective has not yet been fully achieved, and numerous bodies and critics have been calling for a fundamental reform of the UN for a number of years. This policy paper is the result of expert consultations focused on identifying necessary, near-term reforms for the United Nations (UN) which are both feasible and capable of obtaining wide support

Strengthening WTO and the Global Trade System for Sustainable Development. Policy paper for G20

The dynamics of the global trade system is a key influencer in the transition to a sustainable future for humanity. This policy paper emerged from a consultation process with a panel of renowned experts. They focused on how the World Trade Organization (WTO) could be strengthened to provide a global trade system supportive of the sustainability agenda. It is recognized that the WTO was conceived in a different world from the one we live in today, geopolitically and ideologically. This policy paper raises several key recommendations that, in the view of the expert panel, could be implemented in the short term and would achieve a substantial impact to expand the mandate and influence of the WTO, within the broader context of improving global governance to address global societal challenges

Making Transformation Happen: Climate Finance. Policy paper for G20

Climate finance is a key instrument to enable the global response to climate change. Special financial arrangements are required to scale up investment in mitigation alongside adaptation to facilitate the transformation of global societies to a more sustainable, resilient, and equitable future. In 2022, at UNFCCC COP27 the third pillar, a loss and damage fund, was pledged to address the impacts of climate change that cannot be reversed through mitigation or adaptation measures. However, until now, both the quality and quantity of climate finance pledges remains inadequate to fund the required interventions. This policy paper provides recommendations from a consultation process with a panel of experts, who addressed the challenges and opportunities associated with finding adequate climate finance in pursuit of climate progress and sustainable development

Sensory integration intervention and the development of the premature infant: A controlled trial

Background. Premature infants are at risk of sensory processing difficulties and developmental delays due to an immature central nervous system and possible episodes of medical instability, discomfort, pain and stress during the first weeks or months after birth.Objective. To investigate the effect of Ayres Sensory Integration (ASI) on the development of premature infants in the first 12 months of life.Methods. A pre-/post-test experimental design was used to randomly divide 24 premature infants from a low socioeconomic setting in Bloemfontein, South Africa, into experimental and control groups after being matched by corrected age and gender. Developmental status was determined with the Bayley III Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, the Test of Sensory Functions in Infants and the Infant/Toddler Sensory Profile. The experimental group received 10 weeks of ASI intervention.Results. ASI intervention had a positive effect on the sensory processing and development of premature infants, especially in terms of cognitive, language and motor development.Conclusions. ASI intervention at an early age enhances the developmental progress of premature infants.