Measuring child work and residence adjustments to parents' long-term care needs

This article estimates the effects of various parent and child characteristics on the choice of care arrangement of the parent, taking into account the potential endogeneity of some of the child characteristics. Three equations are estimated: a care choice equation, a child location equation, and a child work equation. Results suggest a hierarchy of family decision making; child locations affect the care decision, which affects child work decisions. The results also question previous research attempting to explain causes of secular trends in long-term care.

Child-feeding practices of Indian and Australian-Indian mothers

Aims Child-feeding practices may be modifiable risk factors for childhood obesity; however investigation of feeding practices in non-Western populations is scarce. This cross-sectional study examines feeding practices of affluent Indian mothers with children aged 1-5 years residing in Australia and Mumbai, India. The secondary aim was to study the association between maternal and child characteristics and feeding practices. Methods In Australia 230 and in Mumbai 301 mothers completed either a hardcopy or online questionnaire. Self-reported maternal feeding practices (restriction, monitoring, pressure to eat, passive and responsive feeding) were measured using established scales and culturally-specific items. Results Mothers in both samples were equally likely to use non-responsive feeding practices, namely dietary restriction, pressure and passive feeding. Similarly, at least 50% of mothers in both samples did not feed their child responsively (mother decides what and the child decides how much to eat). The only difference observed after controlling for covariates (mothers’ age, BMI, religion, education, questionnaire type, child’s age, birth place, gender, number of siblings, and weight-for-age (WAZ) scores) was that mothers in the Australian sample used higher levels of dietary monitoring (β= 0.2, P= 0.006). Mothers with a higher BMI (OR: 0.84, CI: 0.89-0.99, p=0.03) and following Hinduism (OR: 0.50, CI: 0.33-0.83, p=0.008) were less likely to feed responsively. Conclusions These results suggest that Indian mothers in both the samples may benefit from interventions that promote responsive child-feeding practices.

The child pose : the role of the nonhuman natural world in recovery from psychological trauma

This thesis by creative work explores relationships among human beings, the nonhuman natural world and language. It addresses the central research question: 'How can a novel embody a narrative of recovery from psychological trauma in which recovery is primarily a function of the character's subjective interaction with nature?' The novel, 'The Child Pose', tells the story of a woman's recovery from psychological trauma. The thesis draws on the psychoanalytic theory of Jacques Lacan, who saw the human subject as fundamentally split and alienated, and therefore inherently vulnerable to being destabilised by trauma. Situating the narrative of recovery within the emerging fields of ecocriticism and ecopsychology, the research constructs psychological recovery through interaction with nature as a transformation of subjectivity: the creation of a new, more stable and connected kind of subject, which Jordan (2012) has called 'the ecological subject'.

Parent's socio-economic status and social support as risks for child mortality : consideration of health equity in The Gambia

A matched case-control study of mortality to children under age five was conducted to consider associations with parents' socio-economic status and social support in the Farafenni Demographic Surveillance Site (DSS). Cases and controls were selected from Farafenni DSS, matched on date of birth, and parents were interviewed about personal resources and social networks. Parents with the lowest personal socio-economic status and social support were identified. Multivariate multinomial regression was used to consider whether the children of these parents were at increased risk of either infant or 1-4 mortality, in separate models using either parents' characteristics. There was no benefit found for higher SES or better social support with respect to child mortality. Children of fathers who had the poorest social support had lower 1-4 mortality risk (OR=0.52, p=0.037). Given that socio-economic status was not associated with child mortality, it seems unlikely that the explanation for the link between father's social support and mortality is linked to resource availability. Explanations for the risk effect of father's social ties may lie in decision-making around health maintenance and health care for children.

Child observation as teachers' work in contemporary Australian early childhood programs

This article reports data from a study of how teachers use child observations in one State in Australia. It argues that the current economic and political climate has meant changes for most early childhood settings catering for children prior to school entry. How teachers in these various settings deal with changes in relation to child observation depends on the contexts in which they work. The paper suggests that the purpose of observing children is changing and that traditionally accepted ways of writing child observations may be under threat.

Impact of child labor on academic performance : evidence from the program "Edúcame Primero Colombia"

In this study, the effects of different variables of child labor on academic performance are investigated. To this end, 3302 children participating in the child labor eradication program “Edúcame Primero Colombia” were interviewed. The interview format used for the children's enrollment into the program was a template from which socioeconomic conditions, academic performance, and child labor variables were evaluated. The academic performance factor was determined using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP). The data were analyzed through a logistic regression model that took into account children who engaged in a type of labor (n = 921). The results showed that labor conditions, the number of weekly hours dedicated to work, and the presence of work scheduled in the morning negatively affected the academic performance of child laborers. These results show that the relationship between child labor and academic performance is based on the conflict between these two activities. These results do not indicate a linear and simple relationship associated with the recognition of the presence or absence of child labor. This study has implications for the formulation of policies, programs, and interventions for preventing, eradicating, and attenuating the negative effects of child labor on the social and educational development of children.

Mobility in the child (and carer) friendly city : SEQ vs. Stockholm

The rationale for providing state subsidised public transport has changed over time from a social obligation to provide transport options for those without access to private transport to an environmental and economic imperative to minimize congestion and greenhouse gas emissions. In many jurisdictions this shift has seen a greater focus on the provision of peak hour commuter services and a shift in the demographic profile of the riding public and a significant increase in the number of commuter passengers relative to others. The scheduling of commuter services is not geared to meet the needs of children and their generally female carers who often need to engage in trip chaining and travel outside peak commuting periods and on weekends. In addition to service scheduling difficulties, transport infrastructure, both on-board and supporting infrastructure such as bus stops, train stations and connecting footpaths often do not support children and their carers to use public transport services. Combined with a negative attitude by passengers and service providers, such as bus drivers, which may see children, babies and young people as out of place and unwelcome on commuter services, these issues conspire to hinder the use of public transport by children and their carers. Overlaying feminist geography analysis and insights and child-friendly cities objectives, this paper proposes some basic criteria for the provision of public transport services and supporting infrastructure which meets the needs of children, babies and their carers and juxtaposes the achievement of these in South East Queensland, Australia and Stockholm, Sweden.

Management of atopic dermatitis in children : evaluation of parents' self-efficacy, outcome expectations, and self-reported task performance using the Child Eczema Management Questionnaire

Child behaviour management is crucial to successful treatment of atopic dermatitis. This study tested relationships between parents’ self-efficacy, outcome expectations, and self-reported task performance when caring for a child with atopic dermatitis. Using a cross-sectional study design, a community-based convenience sample of 120 parents participated in pilot-testing of the Child Eczema Management Questionnaire - a self-administered questionnaire which appraises parents’ self-efficacy, outcome expectations, and self-reported task performance when managing atopic dermatitis. Overall, parents’ self-reported confidence and success with performing routine management tasks was greater than that for managing their child’s symptoms and behaviour. Therewas a positive relationship between time since diagnosis and self-reported performance of routine management tasks; however, success with managing the child’s symptoms and behaviour did not improve with illness duration. Longer time since diagnosis was also associated with more positive outcome expectations of performing tasks that involved others in the child’s care (i.e. healthcare professionals, or the child themselves). This study provides the foundation for further research examining relationships between child, parent, and family psychosocial variables, parent management of atopic dermatitis, and child health outcomes. Improved understanding of these relationships will assist healthcare providers to better support parents and families caring for children with atopic dermatitis. KEYWORDS

Rescuers ignored danger to pluck mother and child from torrent

"Jenny Perry, her husband James and nine-year-old son Ted balanced on the roof of their car until the floodwaters at Helidon took them towards a power line."

Child's body in tree adds to Lockyer Valley death toll

"Two more bodies, including a that of child discovered in a tree, were retrieved in the Lockyer Valley at the weekend, reinforcing the grisly complexity of the search for the missing."

Speaking to the deceased child : Australian Health Professional perspectives in paediatric end-of-life care

Supporting a dying child and family surrounding the child’s death is one of the most significant and challenging roles undertaken by health professionals in paediatric end of life care. An Australian study of parent and health professional constructions of meanings around post mortem care and communication revealed the practice of health professionals speaking to a child after death. This practice conveyed respect for the personhood of the deceased child, recognised the presence of the deceased child, and assisted in involving parents in their child’s post-mortem care. Such findings illuminate an area of end of life care practice that is not often addressed. Talking to a deceased child appeared as a socially symbolic practice that may promote a continued bond between parent and child.