Public Health Commons^™

Parents' Perceptions Of Activity Restrictions In Children With Epilepsy: First Two Years Post-Diagnosis, Nathan C. King

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Children with epilepsy are less physically and socially active than their peers. The objective is to explore whether parents represent a barrier to children’s activity, by examining associations between child and family factors and parents’ perceptions of epilepsy-related activity restrictions. Data were from the Health Related Quality of Life in Children with Epilepsy Study, a longitudinal study of children 4-12 years old with new-onset epilepsy. Parents reported on activity restrictions and family factors and neurologists reported on epilepsy-related characteristics at baseline, 6, 12, and 24 months. Linear mixed models were used to model relationships among child and family factors and …

Antenatal Care Determines Immunization And Care For Fever And Diarrhea In Ghanaian Children, Natalie K. Mcglynn

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Enhancing maternal and child health comprise key Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), driving an analysis of whether efforts to improve maternal health through quality antenatal care (ANC) is associated with the recommended health-related care of children in Sub-Saharan Africa, where under-five mortality is the highest.

This study examines ANC as a potential determinant of immunization and appropriate care for fever and diarrhea in Ghanaian children. Data were pooled from the 1998, 2003, and 2008 Ghana Demographic Health Surveys, and Andersen’s Behavioural Model provided the conceptual framework.

Multivariate logistic regression indicated that quality ANC increases the odds of immunization and appropriate care …

The Influence Of The Childcare Environment On Physical Activity Among Preschool-Aged Children: A Feasibility Study, Leigh M. Vanderloo

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

This study sought to: (1) measure moderate-vigorous physical activity (PA) levels of a sample of preschoolers; (2) assess which attributes (e.g., space, equipment, policies) within centre-based childcare environments influence PA; and, (3) pilot the methodology to ensure the feasibility of undertaking a full-scale study. Thirty-one preschoolers from five childcare centres across London, Canada participated. Actical® accelerometers were worn by participants for one day during childcare hours to assess activity levels using a 15-second epoch length. The Environment and Policy Assessment and Observation instrument was used to conduct a full-day evaluation of the childcare environment. On average, participants engaged in 11.45 …

Early Child Care And Adiposity At Kindergarten Entry, Jessica D. Mackle

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

The association between pre-school child care participation and markers of adiposity at kindergarten entry was examined using parent reported previous child care exposure and directly measured body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC) of kindergarten children (N=201; boys=106, girls=95). It was hypothesized that kindergarten children with previous exposure to full-time non-parent child care (FNPC; >20h/week) would have increased risk of overweight/obesity (BMI≥ 85^th percentile) and high central adiposity (WC ≥80^th percentile) compared to parent care (PC). The data suggest that there was no significant relationship between FNPC (n=112) and risk of overweight/obesity (OR=1.17, …

Exploring Pregnant Women’S Perceptions And Decision Making Of Household Chemicals: Phthalates As A Model, Justin M. Ashley

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Recent research has identified a group of plasticizers known as phthalates as potential anti-androgens and a risk to developing male fetuses. A constructivist grounded theory study was used to understand pregnant women and obstetrical care providers’ perceptions of phthalates. Twenty-three pregnant women and twelve obstetrical care providers (Obstetricians, Family Physicians, and Midwives) from Southwestern Ontario participated in semi-structured interviews. Pregnant women and clinicians had little knowledge regarding phthalates and the potential associated risks. Women felt that knowledge of these risks would be important to prenatal counselling while clinicians required more evidence. Two separate but related models emerged from the data …

Population-Based Placental Weight Ratio Distributions And Determinants Of Placental Weight Ratios, Erin M. Macdonald

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

The placental weight ratio (PWR) is a common proxy for the balance between fetal and placental growth, and is defined as the placental weight over the birth weight. The objectives were (1a) to establish PWR distributions by gestational age for the overall population and (1b) for small, average and large for gestational age infants (SGA, AGA, LGA) and (2) to determine what pregnancy related conditions were associated with the PWR. The data were obtained using a hospital based retrospective cohort. Nonparametric quantile regression was used for the first and multinomial logistic regression for the second objective. The results show how …

Physical Activity Among Latino Children In London, Ontario: An Assessment Of Physical Activity Levels, Sedentary Behaviours, And Physical Activity-Related Barriers And Facilitators, Gillian E. Mandich

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

The purpose of the study was to assess the physical activity (PA) levels, sedentary behaviours, and PA-related barriers and facilitators of a sample of Latino children in London, Canada. Forty boys and 34 girls (mean age = 11.4 years) completed questionnaires related to PA levels, sedentary behaviours, and PA-related barriers and facilitators, and 64 of these children wore an accelerometer for 4 consecutive days. Children spent an average of 53 minutes per day in moderate-to-vigorous PA. The average daily sedentary time for participants was 8.6 hours, and subjective measures revealed that participants spent 3.8 hours per day in front of …

Heavy Maternal Alcohol Consumption And Cerebral Palsy In The Offspring, Colleen M. O'Leary, Linda Watson, Heather D'Antoine, Fiona Stanley, Carol Bower

Aboriginal Policy Research Consortium International (APRCi)

AIM The aim of this study was to investigate the association between heavy maternal alcohol consumption and pre- peri- and postneonatally acquired cerebral palsy (CP). METHOD The records of all mothers with an International Classification of Diseases, revision 9 or 10 (ICD-9 ⁄ -10) alcohol-related diagnostic code, indicating heavy alcohol consumption, recorded on population-based health, mental health, and drug and alcohol data sets from 1983 to 2007, and their children were identified through the Western Australian Data-linkage System. This ‘exposed’ cohort was frequency matched with mothers without an alcohol-related diagnosis and their offspring (comparison group). Cases of CP were identified …