Associations of Bedtime Schedules in Childhood with Obesity Risk in Adolescence

We investigated whether bedtime schedules and bedtimes in childhood were associated with obesity risk and adiposity in adolescence. We analysed the data of 12,645 singleton children classified as not obese at 7 years from the Millennium Cohort Study in the United Kingdom. Bedtimes and the regularity of bedtimes of 7-year-olds were reported by parents. Bio-electric impedance body fat percentage (BFP) measurements and obesity at 11 and 14 years were the considered outcomes. The International Obesity Task Force age- and sex-specific thresholds were used to define obesity. Obesity risk at 11 and 14 years was higher among children with never-regular bedtimes at 7 years compared with those with always-regular bedtimes (risk ratio, RR, 2.8 (95% CI, 1.8–1.4) and 2.3 (95% CI, 1.5–3.6), respectively). An increasing irregularity in childhood bedtime was associated with an increasing risk of obesity at both 11 and 14 years in a dose–response manner (p trend < 0.001; and p trend = 0.002, respectively). BFP at 11 years increased by 1.1% (95% CI, 0.8–1.5) for boys and 1.0% (95% CI, 0.6–1.4) for girls for every hour delay in childhood bedtime. Irregular bedtime schedules and later bedtimes in childhood were associated with an increased risk of obesity in early- and mid-adolescence in a dose–response manner. There was marginal, but significant, increases in BFP during adolescence for children with later bedtimes

Sleep Duration and Waking Activities in Relation to the National Sleep Foundation’s Recommendations: An Analysis of US Population Sleep Patterns from 2015 to 2017

The objective was to investigate the association between time spent on waking activities and nonaligned sleep duration in a representative sample of the US population. We analysed time use data from the American Time Use Survey (ATUS), 2015–2017 (N = 31,621). National Sleep Foundation (NSF) age-specific sleep recommendations were used to define recommended (aligned) sleep duration. The balanced, repeated, replicate variance estimation method was applied to the ATUS data to calculate weighted estimates. Less than half of the US population had a sleep duration that mapped onto the NSF recommendations, and alignment was higher on weekdays (45%) than at weekends (33%). The proportion sleeping longer than the recommended duration was higher than those sleeping shorter on both weekdays and weekends (p < 0.001). Time spent on work, personal care, socialising, travel, TV watching, education, and total screen time was associated with nonalignment to the sleep recommendations. In comparison to the appropriate recommended sleep group, those with a too-short sleep duration spent more time on work, travel, socialising, relaxing, and leisure. By contrast, those who slept too long spent relatively less time on each of these activities. The findings indicate that sleep duration among the US population does not map onto the NSF sleep recommendations, mostly because of a higher proportion of long sleepers compared to short sleepers. More time spent on work, travel, and socialising and relaxing activities is strongly associated with an increased risk of nonalignment to NSF sleep duration recommendations

Relationship between stunting, wasting, underweight and geophagy and cognitive function of children

Objective To investigate the relationship between anthropometric characteristics and both geophagy and cognitive function of children Study design The study prospectively followed singleton children whose mothers participated in the MiPPAD clinical trial in Allada, Benin, from birth to age 12 months. Anthropometric measurements were taken at birth, 9 months and 12 months. Wasting, stunting and underweight were defined as weight-for-length, length-for-age and weight-for-age Z-scores less than -2, respectively. Cognitive and motor functions were assessed using the Mullen Scales of Early Learning (MSEL). Parent-reported geophageous habits of children were collected when the children were 12 months. Multiple linear and logistic regressions were used to analyse the data. Results A total of 632 children (49.7% girls) were involved in the study. Stunting, wasting and underweight were observed in 14.1%, 13.6% and 17.7% respectively at 9 months and 17.3%, 12.7% and 17.2% respectively at 12 months. The prevalence of geophagy among the children was 48.2%. Impaired growth at 9 and 12 months were consistently associated with low cognitive and gross motor score. Children stunted at 9 months had lower GM scores at 12 months compared to their non-stunted peers [β = -3.48, 95% CI (-6.62, -0.35)]. Conclusions Stunting, wasting and underweight are associated with cognitive and gross motor deficits in infants. In this setting, impaired growth was not associated with geophagy. Further research evaluating geophagy and growth prospectively and concurrently from birth to 36 months is needed

Elevated blood lead levels are associated with reduced risk of malaria in Beninese infants

Introduction Elevated blood lead levels (BLL) and malaria carry an important burden of disease in West Africa. Both diseases might cause anemia and they might entail long-term consequences for the development and the health status of the child. Albeit the significant impact of malaria on lead levels described in Nigeria, no evaluation of the effect of elevated BLL on malaria risk has been investigated so far. Materials and Methods Between 2010 and 2012, blood lead levels of 203 Beninese infants from Allada, a semi-rural area 50km North from Cotonou, were assessed at 12 months of age. To assess lead levels, blood samples were analyzed by mass spectrometry. In parallel, clinical, microbiological and hematological data were collected. More precisely, hemoglobin, serum ferritin, CRP, vitamin B12, folate levels, and Plasmodium falciparum parasitemia were assessed and stool samples were also analyzed. Results At 12 months, the mean BLL of infants was 7.41 μg/dL (CI: 65.2; 83), and 128 infants (63%) had elevated blood lead levels, defined by the CDC as BLL>5 μg/dL. Lead poisoning, defined as BLL>10 μg/dL, was found in 39 infants (19%). Twenty-five infants (12.5%) had a positive blood smear at 12 months and 144 infants were anemic (71%, hemoglobin<110 g/L). Elevated blood lead levels were significantly associated with reduced risk of a positive blood smear (AOR = 0.38, P-value = 0.048) and P. falciparum parasite density (beta-estimate = -1.42, P-value = 0.03) in logistic and negative binomial regression multivariate models, respectively, adjusted on clinical and environmental indicators. Conclusion Our study shows for the first time that BLL are negatively associated with malarial risk considering other risk factors. Malaria is one of the main causes of morbidity and mortality in infants under 5 years worldwide, and lead poisoning is the 6th most important contributor to the global burden of diseases measured in disability adjusted life years (DALYs) according to the Institute of Health Metrics. In conclusion, due to the high prevalence of elevated BLL, health interventions should look forward to minimize the exposure to lead to better protect the population in West Africa

Social factors influencing child health in Ghana

Objectives Social factors have profound effects on health. Children are especially vulnerable to social influences, particularly in their early years. Adverse social exposures in childhood can lead to chronic disorders later in life. Here, we sought to identify and evaluate the impact of social factors on child health in Ghana. As Ghana is unlikely to achieve the Millennium Development Goals’ target of reducing child mortality by two-thirds between 1990 and 2015, we deemed it necessary to identify social determinants that might have contributed to the non-realisation of this goal. Methods ScienceDirect, PubMed, MEDLINE via EBSCO and Google Scholar were searched for published articles reporting on the influence of social factors on child health in Ghana. After screening the 98 articles identified, 34 of them that met our inclusion criteria were selected for qualitative review. Results Major social factors influencing child health in the country include maternal education, rural-urban disparities (place of residence), family income (wealth/poverty) and high dependency (multiparousity). These factors are associated with child mortality, nutritional status of children, completion of immunisation programmes, health-seeking behaviour and hygiene practices. Conclusions Several social factors influence child health outcomes in Ghana. Developing more effective responses to these social determinants would require sustainable efforts from all stakeholders including the Government, healthcare providers and families. We recommend the development of interventions that would support families through direct social support initiatives aimed at alleviating poverty and inequality, and indirect approaches targeted at eliminating the dependence of poor health outcomes on social factors. Importantly, the expansion of quality free education interventions to improve would-be-mother’s health knowledge is emphasised

Effets de l'anémie maternelle et ses causes sur le développement cognitif des enfants agés de 1 an au Bénin

The aim was to investigate the impact of anemia during pregnancy and its risk factors on the cognitive development children.Our cohort included 636 mother-singleton child pairs from 828 eligible pregnant women who were enrolled during their first antenatal care (ANC) visit in Allada, Benin, into a clinical trial comparing two malarial drugs. Ferritin and hemoglobin (Hb) level were assessed at the first and second ANC visit of at least one-month interval and at delivery. Stool samples of pregnant women were tested for helminths using the Kato-Katz method. All women were given 600 mg of mebendazole to be taken after the first ANC visit. Cognitive and motor functions of one-year-old children were assessed using Mullen Scales of Early Learning.The prevalence of iron deficiency (ID) at first and second ANC visits, and at delivery was 30.5%, 34.0% and 28.4%, respectively. Prevalence of helminth infection was 11.5%, 7.5% and 3.0% at first, second ANC visits and at delivery, respectively. Prevalence of anemia decreased from 67.1% at first ANC visit to 40.1% at delivery. Hookworm infection at first ANC was associated with lower mean gross motor (GM) scores -4.9 (95% CI:-8.6;-1.3) in the adjusted model. We observed a significant negative quadratic relationship between infant GM function and Hb concentration at first and second ANC visits.Prenatal helminth infection is associated with poor with infant cognitive and motor development. However, in the presence of iron supplementation, ID is not associated with infant neurocognitive development. Further, there appears to be an Hb concentration range (90-110 g/L) that may be optimal for better GM function of one-year-old children.L'objectif était d'évaluer l'effet de l'anémie pendant la grossesse et ses facteurs de risque sur le développement cognitif d'enfants à un an.Notre cohorte a inclus 636 couples de mères et d'enfants singletons nés de femmes enceintes incluses dans un essai clinique antipaludiques au Bénin. Les prélèvements sanguins ont été réalisés lors des 1er et 2nd visites prénatales (VP) et à l'accouchement (AC) afin d'évaluer la concentration en hémoglobine (Hb) et la ferritine sérique. Les selles ont été testé la présence d'oeufs d'helminthes par la technique de Kato-Katz. Toutes les femmes ont reçu 600mg de mébendazole lors de la 1er VP. À l'âge d'un an, le développement psycho-moteur des enfants a été évalué par le Mullen Scales of Early Learning.La prévalence de la carence en fer (CF) chez les femmes 1er et 2nd VP et à l'AC était de 30,5%, 34,0% et 28,4%, respectivement. La prévalence des infections helminthiques était de 11,5%, 7,5% et 3,0 % à la 1er, la 2nd VP et à l'AC, respectivement. La prévalence de l'anémie a diminué de 67,1% à la 1er VP à 40,1% à l'AC. L'infection par ankylostomes à la 1er VP était associée avec un score de motricité globale (MG) inférieure -4,9 (IC 95%:-8,6;-1,3). Nous avons observé une relation quadratique négative significative entre la MG de l'enfant et la concentration d'Hb à la première et la 2nd VP.Dans ce contexte de supplémentation en fer des femmes enceintes, la CF maternelle n'était pas associée au développement neurocognitif de l'enfant. De plus, il semble que des concentrations en Hb légèrement en-dessous de la normale (comprises entre 90 et 110 g/L) soient optimales pour la motricité des enfants à un an

Distribution of the infant blood lead levels at 12 months.

<p>Distribution of the infant blood lead levels at 12 months.</p

Univariate analyses of variables associated with malaria risk at 12 months.

<p>Univariate analyses of variables associated with malaria risk at 12 months.</p

Logistic regression on the possibility of having a positive blood smear at 12 months.

<p>Logistic regression on the possibility of having a positive blood smear at 12 months.</p

Flow diagram showing the article selection process, using the PRISMA approach.

<p>Flow diagram showing the article selection process, using the PRISMA approach.</p