An exploration and comparison of food and drink availability in homes in a sample of families of White and Pakistani origin within the UK.

OBJECTIVE: Knowledge of the types and quantities of foods and drinks available in family homes supports the development of targeted intervention programmes for obesity prevention or management, or for overall diet improvement. In the UK, contemporary data on foods that are available within family homes are lacking. The present study aimed to explore home food and drink availability in UK homes. DESIGN: An exploratory study using researcher-conducted home food availability inventories, measuring all foods and drinks within the categories of fruits, vegetables, snack foods and beverages. SETTING: Bradford, a town in the north of the UK. SUBJECTS: Opportunistic sample of mixed ethnicity families with infants approximately 18 months old from the Born in Bradford birth cohort. RESULTS: All homes had at least one type of fruit, vegetable and snack available. Fresh fruits commonly available were oranges, bananas, apples, satsumas and grapes. Commonly available fresh vegetables included potatoes, cucumber, tomatoes and carrots. The single greatest non-fresh fruit available in homes was raisins. Non-fresh vegetables contributing the most were frozen mixed vegetables, tinned tomatoes and tinned peas. Ethnic differences were found for the availability of fresh fruits and sugar-sweetened beverages, which were both found in higher amounts in Pakistani homes compared with White homes. CONCLUSIONS: These data contribute to international data on availability and provide an insight into food availability within family homes in the UK. They have also supported a needs assessment of the development of a culturally specific obesity prevention intervention in which fruits and vegetables and sugar-sweetened beverages are targeted

A competência que as crianças pequenas têm para contar e fazer inferências numéricas entre conjuntos

Este projecto de investigação apresenta um estudo experimental relacionado com a competência das crianças na contagem de conjuntos, em diferentes condições de contagem, e procura analisar se estas crianças têm já uma compreensão do significado das suas contagens, quando fazem julgamentos em que a numerosidade de dois conjuntos está em correspondência perfeita e é igual; ou diferente, quando os conjuntos estão em não correspondência, fazendo inferências. Neste estudo foram apresentadas duas tarefas principais como forma de examinar as duas principais propostas: “ Tarefas de contagem” e “Tarefas de inferência”. As crianças foram testadas e tiveram que responder a vinte e quatro questões relacionadas com as diferentes condições de contagem, bem como com as questões de inferência. Os resultados deste estudo parecem indicar que a maioria das crianças, que conseguiam contar correctamente, eram capazes de fazer inferências, quando os conjuntos estavam em correspondência perfeita, principalmente as de 4 e 5 anos. No entanto, contar parece não ter muito significado para as crianças mais pequenas, principalmente as de 3 anos que muito embora já demonstrem formas correctas de contagem, eram pouco capazes de inferir. Muitas das crianças de 4 e 5 anos que sabiam já contar perfeitamente, não conseguiam inferir em situações de relação de não correspondência

um estudo de intervênçao

A identificação de experiências correctas e controladas para testar uma dada hipótese científica exige processos mentais complexos, sendo uma tarefa exigente para crianças. Foram formuladas as seguintes hipóteses: (1) as crianças compreendem o que é uma boa experiência para testar uma dada hipótese, e conseguem justificar correctamente as suas escolhas de forma clara e rigorosa; (2) as crianças têm um melhor desempenho quando as experiências correctas e incorrectas são apresentadas em dois grupos distintos (condição passiva), do que quando estão misturadas (condição activa); (3) o desempenho das crianças é influen¬ciado pelo seu conhecimento e/ou crenças acerca do fenómeno a ser expe¬rimentado; (4) o desempenho melhora com a idade; e (5) que o mecanismo do controle de variáveis é facilmente aprendido. Crianças do 3º e 6º anos de escolaridade (N = 36 de cada grupo etário) avaliaram experi¬ências em seis tarefas diferentes, sendo-lhes pedido para escolherem a experiência mais correcta e rigorosa para testar uma dada hipótese e para justificarem essa escolha. Os resultados mostraram que a maior parte dos participantes conseguiam distinguir uma experiência correcta em algumas das seis tarefas. O desempenho foi superior na condição passiva do que na activa. Em algumas tarefas, a natureza do fenómeno usado levou as crianças a manterem as suas ideias e crenças e responder incorrectamente. Também a relevância que as variáveis apresentavam para os participantes influenciou as suas escolhas de experiências correctas. Foram apenas encontradas pequenas diferenças entre os dois grupos etários. Quando o mecanismo de controle de variáveis lhes foi ensinado de forma directa e explicita, as crianças aprenderam e conseguiram transferir a sua aprendiza¬gem para outras situações científicas

Ethnic differences in dietary intake at age 12 and 18 months: the Born in Bradford 1000 Study.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the intake of key indicator foods at age 12 months and 18 months between infants of Pakistani and White British origin. DESIGN: Logistic regression was used to model associations between ethnicity and consumption of key indicator foods defined by high or low energy density using an FFQ at age 12 and 18 months. SETTING: Born in Bradford 1000 study, Bradford, UK. SUBJECTS: Infants (n 1259; 38 % White British, 49 % Pakistani), mean age 12·7 (sd 1·0) months and toddlers (n 1257; 37 % White British, 49 % Pakistani), mean age 18·7 (sd1·0) months. RESULTS: At 12 months, Pakistani infants consumed more commercial sweet baby meals than White British infants, with greater odds for being above average consumers (adjusted OR (AOR)=1·90; 95 % CI 1·40, 2·56), more chips/roast potatoes (AOR=2·75; 95 % CI 2·09, 3·62), less processed meat products (AOR=0·11; 95 % CI 0·08, 0·15), more fruit (AOR=2·20; 95 % CI 1·70, 2·85) and more sugar-sweetened drinks (AOR=1·68; 95 % CI 1·29, 2·18). At 18 months these differences persisted, with Pakistani infants consuming more commercial sweet baby meals (AOR=4·57; 95 % CI 2·49, 8·39), more chips/roast potato shapes (AOR=2·26; 95 % CI 1·50, 3·43), more fruit (AOR=1·40; 95 % CI 1·08, 1·81), more sugar-sweetened drinks (AOR=2·03; 95 % CI 1·53, 2·70), more pure fruit juice (AOR=1·82; 95 % CI 1·40, 2·35), more water (AOR=3·24; 95 % CI 2·46, 4·25) and less processed meat (AOR=0·10; 95 % CI 0·06, 0·15) than White British infants. CONCLUSIONS: Dietary intake during infancy and the early toddlerhood period is associated with ethnicity, suggesting the importance of early and culturally adapted interventions aimed at establishing healthy eating behaviours

Sea Island Cascades: An Analysis of Principals\u27 and Teachers\u27 Perceptions of Factors Related to The Overrepresentation of African American Males Identified as Having an Emotional Disability

The issue of the overrepresentation of African Americans in special education is a persistent concern that has negatively impacted African American male students, their families, school districts, and the field of special education. School districts throughout the nation report a higher representation of African American males in special education programs than their presence in the general education environment would predict. In South Carolina, 42.5 % of African Americans receive special education services whereas 53% are categorized as having an emotional disturbance (ED). Of the 53% of the African Americans categorized as ED, 79% are males. In the Charleston County School District, African American students represent 44 % of the school district\u27s enrollment and 55% of this enrollment receives special education services. Of the students who are defined within the category of emotional disability, 70% are African Americans. The purpose of this study is to examine how African American male students with special needs are perceived within their educational environment by elementary school principals, assistant principals, and general education teachers in the school district of Charleston, South Carolina. The following research questions will guide this study. Research Question One How do educators and administrators perceive the affect of the following factors on the overrepresentation of African American male students with ED: 1. Environmental factors 2. Teacher perception 3. School related variables Research Question Two Is there a difference in the educators\u27 and administrators\u27 perceptions of factors related to the overrepresentation of African American male students with ED? Research Question Three Is there a difference in educators\u27 and administrators\u27 perceptions of overrepresentation based on the following demographic characteristics: a. race (Caucasian vs. other) b. training on how to refer students to special education services c. training to identify ED characteristics d. years of experience. The population for this study consisted of all individuals identified as active elementary school principals, assistant principals, and general education teachers of the Charleston County School District in South Carolina. Participants were invited to complete the Gresham Survey designed to quantitatively assess the perceptions of general educators about the overrepresentation of elementary aged African American males identified as having an ED under the IDEA

Prevalence of Herpes Simplex Virus 1 and 2 in a Sexually Transmitted Disease Clinic in Miami

The Prevalence of HSV-1 and HSV-2 among STD clinics in Miami is not known. The objective of this study was to evaluate infection rates of HSV 1 and 2, and to describe the socio-demographic characteristics, sexual orientation and co-infection with HIV and other STIs, in individuals attending a Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD) clinic in Miami. A cross-sectional study of 663 patients tested for HSV type-specific serology or herpes culture during the year 2007 was performed. An overall infection rate of HSV-1 was 42.1% and 36.7% for HSV-2. Statistically higher infection rates for HSV-1and 2 were seen among Hispanics (56.7%, 54.4%) compared to non-Hispanic black (36.80%, 41.70%) and non-Hispanic white patients (6.1%, 3.5%) respectively. Females showed higher HSV-2 infection rates over males, 41.6% vs. 58.4%; p = 0.03. HSV-1 and 2 infection rates were 60.2% and 57.6% among foreign-born individuals, in contrast to 39.8% and 42.4% found among persons born in the United States. Our data shows high infection rates for HSV-1 and 2 in this community, and especially among the Hispanic population. Efforts to decrease acquisition among the Hispanic population should be a focus of future STI prevention programs

Reliability and validity of the Healthy Home Survey: A tool to measure factors within homes hypothesized to relate to overweight in children

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The contribution of the environment to the obesity epidemic is well recognized. Parents have control over their home environment and can, therefore, support healthy dietary and activity habits in their children by manipulating factors such as access to energy-dense foods, availability of physical activity equipment, and restricting screen time. This paper describes the development of the Healthy Home Survey and its reliability and validity. The Healthy Home Survey was designed to assess characteristics of the home environment that are hypothesized to influence healthy weight behaviors in children including diet and physical activity.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We recruited 85 families with at least one child between 3–8 years. The Healthy Home Survey was administered to parents via telephone and repeated in a random sample of 45 families after 7 days. In-home observations were performed within 14 days of the first Healthy Home Survey interview. Percent agreement, Kappa statistics, Intra-class correlation coefficients and sensitivity analyses were used to evaluate reliability and validity evidence.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Reliability and validity estimates for the Healthy Home Survey were varied, but generally high (0.22–1.00 and 0.07–0.96 respectively), with lower scores noted for perishable foods and policy items. Lower scores were likely related to actual change in the perishable foods present and the subjective nature or clarity of policy questions and response categories.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Initial testing demonstrated that the Healthy Home Survey is a feasible, reliable, and valid assessment of the home environment; however, it has also highlighted areas that need improvement. The Healthy Home Survey will be useful in future research exploring the relationship between the home environment and child weight.</p

Use of progression criteria to support monitoring and commissioning decision making of public health services: : lessons from Better Start Bradford

BACKGROUND:Commissioning and monitoring of community-based interventions is a challenge due to the complex nature of the environment and the lack of any explicit cut-offs to guide decision making. At what point, for example, is participant enrolment to interventions, course completion or satisfaction deemed to be acceptable or sufficient for continued funding? We aimed to identify and quantify key progression criteria for fourteen early years interventions by (1) agreeing the top three criteria for monitoring of successful implementation and progress; and (2) agreeing boundaries to categorise interventions as 'meeting anticipated target' (green); 'falling short of targets' (amber) and 'targets not being met' (red). METHODS:We ran three workshops in partnership with the UK's Big Lottery Fund commissioned programme 'Better Start Bradford' (implementing more than 20 interventions to improve the health, wellbeing and development of children aged 0-3) to support decision making by agreeing progression criteria for the interventions being delivered. Workshops included 72 participants, representing a range of professional groups including intervention delivery teams, commissioners, intervention-monitoring teams, academics and community representatives. After discussion and activities, final decisions were submitted using electronic voting devices. All participants were invited to reconsider their responses via a post-workshop questionnaire. RESULTS:Three key progression criteria were assigned to each of the 14 interventions. Overall, criteria that participants most commonly voted for were recruitment, implementation and reach, but these differed according to each intervention. Cut-off values used to indicate when an intervention moved to 'red' varied by criteria; the lowest being for recruitment, where participants agreed that meeting less than 65% of the targeted recruitment would be deemed as 'red' (falling short of target). CONCLUSIONS:Our methodology for monitoring the progression of interventions has resulted in a clear pathway which will support commissioners and intervention teams in local decision making within the Better Start Bradford programme and beyond. This work can support others wishing to implement a formal system for monitoring the progression of public health interventions

Childhood obesity prevention trials: A systematic review and meta‐analysis on trial design and the impact of type 1 error

Summary: Effect sizes from previously reported trials are often used to determine the meaningful change in weight in childhood obesity prevention interventions because information on clinically meaningful differences is lacking. Estimates from previous trials may be influenced by statistical significance; therefore, it is important that they have a low risk of type 1 error. A systematic review and meta‐analysis were conducted to report on the design of child obesity prevention randomized controlled trials and effectiveness according to risk of type 1 error. Eighty‐four randomized controlled trials were identified. A large range of assumptions were applied in the sample size calculations. The most common primary outcome was BMI, with detectable effect size differences used in sample size calculations ranging from 0.25 kg/m2 (followed up at 2 years) to 1.1 kg/m2 (at 9 months) and BMI z‐score ranging from 0.1 (at 4 years) to 0.67 (at 3 years). There was no consistent relationship between low risk of type 1 error and reports of higher or lower effectiveness. Further clarity of the size of a meaningful difference in weight in childhood obesity prevention trials is required to support evaluation design and decision‐making for intervention and policy. Type 1 error risk does not appear to impact effect sizes in a consistent direction