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AUTHOR(S) Melissa Perian; Marcia Cooke; Henna Muzaffar (et al.)
A Coordinated Approach to Child Health (CATCH) is an evidence-based school health program focusing on increasing healthy eating and physical activity and reducing screen time. This project aimed to determine if CATCH program will have significant effects on self-rated knowledge, habits of physical activity, healthy eating (fruit and vegetable consumption), and screen time among 3rd and 5th-grade students at a rural elementary school during the 2020–2021 school year. To evaluate this 4-month project, a pre- and post-intervention School Physical Activity and Nutrition (SPAN) survey was distributed to 51 3rd and 5th-grade students. The program included six 30-minute education sessions specific to grade level and healthy snacks including fruits and vegetables. A family fun event (virtual 2K walk/run due to COVID-19) was organized. Prizes (i.e., water bottles, jump ropes) were given to students for participating in the family fun event and at Track and Field day to encourage healthy behavior.
AUTHOR(S) Yuki Tada; Yukari Ueda; Kemal Sasaki (et al.)
This study examines whether preschool children who maintained regular mealtimes after the spread of COVID-19 infection have better lifestyle habits, like waking up and sleeping early and a more balanced diet, than those who did not. An online cross-sectional survey was conducted among 2,000 individuals who provided meals to preschool children aged 2 to 6 years. The Healthy Diet Score (HDS), on a 40-point scale, was developed to comprehensively assess the dietary balance of preschool children based on their frequency of food intake from 13 food groups. The analysis included data on 1,850 children, excluding those who failed to answer the main questions. The participants were classified into four groups based on their responses regarding the regularity of mealtimes after the spread of COVID-19: ‘regular mealtimes (n = 125),’ ‘originally regular and remains unchanged (n = 1514),’ ‘irregular mealtimes (n = 63),’ and ’originally irregular and remains unchanged (n = 148).’ Multiple regression analysis was conducted with HDS as the dependent variable, and regularity of mealtimes and confounding factors as independent variables.
Online grocery services hold potential to reduce physical barriers to equitable healthy food procurement, particularly among low-income families who often live far from groceries stores. During COVID-19, the USDA authorized the use of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits online in some retailers across the US. We aimed to evaluate the nutritional quality of online grocery purchases among SNAP-eligible families. Itemized receipt data was analyzed from a larger mixed methods study of online grocery shopping behaviors of SNAP-eligible families in Maryland. Of the 310 participants who completed the survey, 39 submitted grocery receipts. Of those, 19 participants submitted receipts with complete data for nutritional analysis on total amount spent, number of items purchased and units, weight (oz), and % of expenditure on fruits, vegetables, and sugar sweetened beverages (SSB). Nutritional analysis compared purchases of propensity score matched samples of SNAP (n = 14) versus SNAP-eligible non-participant families (n = 5) using a zero-inflated Poisson regression, controlling for sociodemographic factors.
AUTHOR(S) Jessica Escobar-DeMarco; Santhia Ireen; Rowshan Kabir (et al.)
The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted health services worldwide. Alive and Thrive (A&T) is testing MIYCN integration into non-governmental organizations’ (NGOs) health services in eight facilities in Dhaka. We aimed to develop a data-driven urban MIYCN intervention pathway adapted to continue delivering nutrition services during COVID-19. A&T used its learnings from previous interventions and formative research to design an urban MIYCN intervention with a social and behavior change strategy set to improve nutrition practices. Mixed monitoring data were used to track the intervention elements capacity building, demand creation, service delivery, and supervision; and COVID-19 situation domains lockdown, restrictions, guidelines, staff turnover, contextual and behavior changes, adaptations, and budget implications. COVID-19 studies as well as external value chain, market, and food security reports were used. Monthly monitoring data were used to identify and validate potential adaptations.
AUTHOR(S) Katherine L. Wesley; Emily H. Cooper; John T. Brinton (et al.)
To assess changes in duration, timing, and social jetlag in adolescent sleep during the COVID-19 pandemic and evaluate the impact of mood, physical activity, and social interactions on sleep. An online survey queried adolescents’ sleep before (through retrospective report) and during the initial phase of COVID-19 in May 2020. Adolescents (N = 3,494), 13–19 years old, in the United States (U.S.) answered questions about their current and retrospective (prior to COVID-19) sleep, chronotype, mood, and physical and social activities. Linear regression models were fit for time in bed, reported bed and wake times, and social jetlag during COVID-19, accounting for pre-COVID-19 values.
AUTHOR(S) Elder Varela; Jamie Zeldman; Giuliana Blanca (et al.)
To explore the perceived barriers and needs of different types of community stakeholders regarding services and resources to improve food security for families with children under 3 years before and during COVID-19. Community stakeholders (n = 32) working with low-income families with children ages 0–3 years in Florida participated in a 60-minute interview via Zoom. Participants included those working in healthcare (n = 7), community/policy development (n = 6), emergency food assistance (n = 6), early childhood development (n = 7), and nutrition education (n = 6). Trained researchers conducted interviews using a semi-structured script based on the PRECEDE component of the PRECEDE-PROCEED model. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using an inductive thematic approach. Crosstab qualitative analysis was used to compare data across different types of stakeholders.
AUTHOR(S) Amayrani Vanessa Ruiz Ulloa; María del Carmen Caamano; Hugo Melgar-Quinonez (et al.)
To evaluate the changes in Household Food Insecurity (HFI) and diet in children pre and post COVID-19 pandemic in a group of children living in an urban area in Querétaro, Mexico. A total of 67 children (mean age = 11 years, range = 9–13 years) participated in this longitudinal study. HFI and diet were measured in-person, before the COVID-19 pandemic (December 2019) and by phone, after the COVID-19 pandemic (March 2021). HFI was assessed using the Latin American and Caribbean Food Security Scale (ELCSA) while diet was assessed using a previously validated food frequency questionnaire. Differences in HFI and diet were tested using McNemar's and T-student tests, respectively.
AUTHOR(S) Scott Ickes; Hellen Lemein; Kelly Arensen (et al.)
The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on breastfeeding practices in low and middle-income countries is not well understood. Modifications in breastfeeding guidelines and delivery platforms for breastfeeding education are hypothesized to have affected breastfeeding practices during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aimed to understand the experiences with perinatal care, breastfeeding education and practice among mothers who delivered infants during the COVID-19 pandemic. It conducted key informant interviews among 35 mothers with deliveries since March 2020 and 10 healthcare workers (HCW) from two public health facilities in Naivasha, Kenya.
AUTHOR(S) Irene Lieu; Mona Hanna-Attisha; Jenny LaChance (et al.)
AUTHOR(S) Isa Okajima; Yukako Honda; Osamu Semba (et al.)
COVID-19-related anxiety, sleep problems, and loneliness may be risk factors for school refusal in children and adolescents. However, few studies have examined the mechanisms by which these risk factors cause school refusal. This study examined the process by which COVID-19-related anxiety, sleep problems, and loneliness cause school refusal, using structural equation modeling. In this cross-sectional questionnaire-based study, 256 (109 male, 147 female, mean age: 15.37 ± 0.48 years) senior high school students were asked to complete the Stress and Anxiety associated with Viral Epidemics-6 questionnaire to assess COVID-19-related anxiety, the Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS), Sleep Debt Index (SDI), and chronotype (MSFsc) to assess sleep problems, the Three-Item Loneliness Scale (TILS) to assess loneliness, and Feelings of School-Avoidance Scale (FSAS) to assess school refusal.
AUTHOR(S) Ummu Erliana; Alyce Fly; Pengcheng Xun
A cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the association between BMI and the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) score among pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers. An online survey was used to obtain sociodemographic data and EPDS scores from pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers in Indiana from July 27, 2020 until July 30, 2021. Potential participants were invited through a Facebook group. The inclusion criteria were pregnant women and exclusive breastfeeding mothers,18 years of age or older, with a singleton pregnancy, who intended to breastfeed after delivery, and used English as a primary language. Data were collected using Qualtrics and descriptive statistics, including mean, standard deviation (SD) and percentages, were used to characterize demographic variables. Multiple linear regression was performed to examine the association [beta coefficient (β) with 95% confidence interval (CI)] between BMI and EPDS with adjustment for potential confounding factors (e.g., sociodemographic factors).
AUTHOR(S) Marisa Tsai; Lauren Au; Lorrene Ritchie (et al.)
AUTHOR(S) Abigail Fiske; Gaia Scerif; Karla Holmboe
AUTHOR(S) Xiangli Gu; Jean Keller; Tao Zhang (et al.)
Guided by the social ecological model, this study aimed to examine the relations of built environments (i.e., walking/cycling infrastructure, recreation facilities, neighborhood safety/crime), youth’s transition abilities, and changes of youth’s physical activity (PA) and play behaviors due to COVID-19-based restrictions. Ethnic and socioeconomic status (SES) disparities were also examined on studies variables during the COVID-19 restrictions. A cross-sectional research design was used to assess an anonymous online survey completed by US parents/guardians. The final sample had 1324 children and adolescents (Meanage = 9.75; SD = 3.95; 51.3% girls), and 35.5% the families were of upper socioeconomic class (income > $150,000). Parents reported the perceived built environment and neighborhood safety, child’s PA and play behaviors during COVID-19 pandemic shelter-in-place restrictions.
AUTHOR(S) Bon Eric Arceo Besonia; Lyka Francisco Magnate
UNICEF Innocenti's Children and COVID-19 Library is a database collecting research from around the world on COVID-19 and its impacts on children and adolescents.
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