Maternal Depressive Symptoms Mediate the Association between Socio-economic Status and Adolescent Weight Outcomes: A Longitudinal Analysis

Introduction The prevalence of pediatric obesity is an issue in the United States, in which approximately one-third of children and adolescents are overweight or obese. Youth living in low socioeconomic (SES) households are at an increased risk for developing obesity; yet, research is needed to understand the mechanisms that might better explain the relationship between SES and obesity risk. Maternal depression presents a potential mechanism by which SES might predict a later risk for obesity in pediatric populations. Methods The present study used a national dataset from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development—Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development (NICHD-SECCYD) to examine whether maternal depressive symptoms (at an age of 9 years) mediated the association between early SES (the income-to-needs ratio measured at an age of 1 month) and adolescent weight outcomes [Body Mass Index z-scores (zBMI) for age and sex, at an age of 15 years]. Results The results suggested that greater maternal depressive symptoms helped to explain a significant amount of the variance of lower SES predicting poorer weight outcomes in adolescents. Discussion These findings illustrate the role of maternal depressive symptoms in explaining how SES predicts adolescent weight outcomes. Implications are discussed, and future research is needed to identify women from lower SES households who are experiencing depressive symptoms to provide support and initiate points of early intervention to address relevant health outcomes in youths.     

Exploring Lactation Consultant Views on Infant Safe Sleep

Objectives The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the infant safe sleep beliefs and occupational practices of lactation consultants and to determine if lactation consultants give advice to clients that is consistent with the American Academy of Pediatrics’ recommendations on this topic. Methods Focus groups were conducted with certified lactation consultants in two cities in Ohio. Participants discussed the role of lactation consultants, the infant sleep advice they provide to women, their views on the American Academy of Pediatrics’ infant safe sleep recommendations and related policies, and perceived benefits and barriers associated with providing infant safe sleep education as part of their work. A member-checking session was held to ensure the credibility of the findings. Results Four focus groups were conducted with 22 certified lactation consultants between September and November 2015. Major themes that emerged included: lactation consultants’ beliefs regarding the importance of bedsharing for supporting breastfeeding success; their disagreement with the infant safe sleep recommendations of the American Academy of Pediatrics; their frustration with policies that restrict consultants’ ability to discuss bedsharing; and the impact of infant safe sleep policies on their work and the advice they provide. Conclusions for Practice Lactation consultants interact with mothers of newborns at a critical time for infant safe sleep decision-making and may influence a woman’s choices related to this topic. Women may not be receiving messages from lactation consultants that are consistent with the infant safe sleep recommendations of the American Academy of Pediatrics.     

Evaluation of Training Program for the Maternal and Child Health Workforce at Tulane University

Objectives Despite significant investments in Maternal and Child Health (MCH), the United States still lags behind other countries in key MCH indicators. A well-trained workforce is needed to improve MCH. The Division of MCH Workforce Development of HRSA’s Maternal and Child Health Bureau provides funding to schools of Public Health to support Centers of Excellence in MCH, which is focused on preparing the next generation of MCH leaders through specialized training and mentorship. One such center, the Tulane Center of Excellence in MCH (CEMCH), is housed at the Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine. This study evaluated the perceived effectiveness and acceptability of the CEMCH leadership training program. Methods A mixed-methods approach was used, consisting of semi-structured interviews and quantitative surveys which were analyzed through inductive methods based in grounded theory and non-parametric methods respectively. Results Results indicated an overall high level of program satisfaction by all stakeholders. Mentorship and personal attention emerged as an important benefit for both former and current Scholars. The opportunity to gain real-world understanding of MCH work through program activities was an added benefit, although these activities also presented the most challenges. Community stakeholders generally did not view the program as providing immediate organizational benefit, but recognized the distal benefit of contributing to a well-trained MCH workforce. Conclusions for Practice These results will be used to inform other MCH training programs and strengthen Tulane’s CEMCH. A well-trained MCH workforce is essential to improving MCH, and high-quality training its foundation.     

Physical Activity Patterns and Correlates of 9-Month-Old Chinese Infants in the Macau Population

Objectives Many obesity-related chronic diseases originate from unhealthy childhood habits. The aim of this study was to describe 9-month-old infants’ physical activity levels and patterns and to examine the correlates. Understanding these factors is necessary for improving the effectiveness of physical activity intervention programs for infants. Methods In total, 143 infant–mother dyads from Macau, SAR China, participated in this study. Physical activity (PA) was assessed by using the Actigraph GT3X+ accelerometer and the demographic variables were collected by questionnaires. Results The most important findings were that: (1) infants had more screen time during weekdays (p?=?.044); (2) infants and mothers were least active at 8 a.m. (both weekdays and weekends) in the morning and most active at 7 p.m. (weekdays) and 8 p.m. (weekends) in the evening; (3) infants’ PA levels significantly correlated with their mothers’ PA intensities during the weekends (r?=?.192, p?=?.036), especially the mothers’ lower intensities in the mornings and evenings; (4) maternal BMI predicted the PA levels of the 9-month-old infants’ (R²?=?.06, β?=?29.188, p?=?.009). Conclusions for Practice Physical activity promotion programs for infants should be time-specific starting from early infancy. This study was one of the first to examine 9-month-old infants’ PA levels, patterns and correlates. The results may be helpful in improving the effectiveness of future healthy lifestyle intervention programs for infants in Macau and in the region in general.     

Factor Structure and Sensitivity to Change of the Recovery Assessment Scale

The focus on recovery, not just symptom reduction, in mental health care brings a need for psychometrically sound measures of recovery. This study examined the factor structure and sensitivity to change of a common measure of mental health recovery, the Recovery Assessment Scale (RAS). We conducted a secondary data analysis from a randomized clinical trial of self-management for depression (n = 302). We tested both bifactor and the previously found five-factor model. Sensitivity to change was examined three ways: (1) between the intervention and control group; (2) across time in the intervention group; and (3) in those whose depression remitted. The previous five-factor model was supported. One subscale, no domination by symptoms, was particularly sensitive to change and showed sensitivity to change whereas the subscale reliance on others did not show change in any of the comparisons. Results suggest that the subscales of the RAS should be examined separately in future studies of recovery.     

Incidence and Risk Factors for Hepatitis C Virus Infection among Illicit Drug Users in Italy

So far, only three small outdated studies have investigated hepatitis C virus (HCV) incidence and risk factors among illicit drug users (DUs) in Italy. Thus, during 2007–2010, we conducted a prospective cohort study among DUs attending 17 Italian rehabilitation centers serving urban areas. Two hundred eighty-four HCV-uninfected DUs were prospectively followed by interview and anti-HCV antibody and RNA testing every 6 months. Incidence was calculated using the person-years method. Infection predictors were assessed by time-dependent Cox analysis. Participants were mostly male (83.4%), under opioid substitution therapy (OST) (78.9%), non-injecting DUs (67.9%), and with a mean age of 30.8. Ninety-one of 224 DUs initially under OST interrupted treatment during the follow-up. Overall HCV incidence was 5.83/100 person-years at risk (PYAR) [95% confidence intervals (CI), 3.63–9.38]. The incidence did not significantly differ according the participants’ sociodemographic characteristics or the degree of urbanization of the towns involved in the study. The incidence was higher for DUs under than for those not under OST (6.23 vs 4.50/100 PYAR; p = 0.681). Incidence was also higher for those with than for those without OST interruption (7.17 vs 5.04/100 PYAR; p = 0.55). However, all these differences were non-significant. At last follow-up visit, a significant decrease in frequency of sharing equipment for preparation/using drugs (by injection or not) was observed by analyzing either the whole cohort or DUs under OST only. Anti-HCV seroconversion resulted independently associated with sharing drug preparation/use equipment, backloading, having a HCV-positive sexual partner, or household and (marginally) intravenous injection. In this study, HCV incidence was non-negligible and OST seemed to lack effectiveness in reducing it. In Italy, implementation of combined harm reduction interventions and antiviral treatment of chronically infected DUs would be needed.