UNASSIGNED: Growth monitoring plays an essential role in the development of young children. Anthropometric indices are of utmost importance for healthcare professionals to identify children at risk of inadequate growth and malnutrition.
UNASSIGNED: This study aimed to assess the capturing of the growth indices in the Road to Health Booklets (RTHB) in clinics.
UNASSIGNED: The study was carried out in Mangaung Metropolitan municipal clinics in the Free State province, South Africa.
UNASSIGNED: A descriptive quantitative study was conducted using a checklist to audit 264 RTHBs. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse data.
UNASSIGNED: The findings showed that birth weight was recorded in most 99% (n = 262) of the RTHBs. The mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) was not recorded in 58% (n = 153) of the cases during the last visit. Weight-for-Age (WfA) was routinely plotted in 91% (n = 241) of the RTHB. The length or Height-for-Age (LHfA) was plotted in 38% (n = 99) of the RTHB and Weight-for-Length or height (WfLH) was plotted in 31% (n = 81) of the RTHB.
UNASSIGNED: The results demonstrated that certain anthropometric measures including MUAC, length, or height were absent from the records of the RTHB. Consequently, RTHB may not be effectively used as a means of evaluating nutritional status, affecting early detection of malnutrition in children.
UNASSIGNED: The research makes a valuable addition to the existing body of knowledge for monitoring growth and measurement of anthropometric indices in the RTHB, as well as the appropriate execution of these practices.

UNASSIGNED: Early childhood development (ECD) centres are important community hubs in South Africa and act as sites for community detection of childhood nutrition problems. This study aimed to assess the ability of trained ECD practitioners with optimal support to correctly classify the nutritional status of infants and young children at ECD centres in the Nelson Mandela Bay.
UNASSIGNED: A descriptive, cross-sectional study was used to collect data from 1645 infants and children at 88 ECD centres. Anthropometric measurements were taken by trained fieldworkers and growth monitoring and promotion infrastructure was audited at ECD centres.
UNASSIGNED: Of the sample, 4.4% (n = 72) were underweight by weight for age Z-score (WAZ < -2) and 0.8% (n = 13) were severely underweight (WAZ < -3). Results showed that 13.1% (n = 214) were stunted by height for age Z-score (HAZ < -2) and 4.5% (n = 74) were severely stunted (HAZ < -3). The prevalence of moderate acute malnutrition was 1.2% and severe acute malnutrition was 0.5%, while the prevalence of overweight was 9.2% and the prevalence of obesity was 4%. A significant level of agreement between the correct interpretation and the ECD practitioners\' interpretation was observed across all the anthropometric indicators investigated. The true positive wasting cases had a mean mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) of 14.6 cm, which may explain the high false negative rate found in terms of children identified with wasting, where ECD practitioners fail to use the weight for height Z-score (WHZ) interpretation for screening.
UNASSIGNED: By using ECD centres as hub to screen for malnutrition, it may contribute to the early identification of failure to thrive among young children. Although it was concerning that trained ECD practitioners are missing some children with an unacceptably high false negative rate, it may have been due to the fact that wasting in older children cannot be identified with MUAC alone and that accurate WFH plotting is needed. Onsite mentorship by governmental health workers may provide ECD practitioners with more confidence to screen children for growth failure based on regular WFH measurements. Moreover, ECD practitioners will be more confident to monitor the Road to Health booklets for missed vaccinations, vitamin A and deworming opportunities.

Childhood stunting is a significant public health concern in Bangladesh. This study analysed the data from the Healthy Village programme, which aims to address childhood stunting in southern coastal Bangladesh. The aim was to assess childhood stunting prevalence over time and explore the risk factors in the programme areas. A cross-sectional, secondary data analysis was conducted for point-prevalence estimates of stunting from 2018 to 2021, including 132,038 anthropometric measurements of under-five children. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted for risk factor analysis (n = 20,174). Stunting prevalence decreased from 51% in 2018 to 25% in 2021. The risk of stunting increased in hardcore poor (aOR: 1.46, 95% CI: 1.27, 1.68) and poor (aOR: 1.50, 95% CI: 1.33, 1.70) versus rich households, children with mothers who were illiterate (aOR: 1.25, 95% CI: 1.09, 1.44) and could read and write (aOR: 1.35, 95% CI: 1.16, 1.56) versus mothers with higher education, and children aged 1-2 years compared with children under one year (aOR: 1.32, 95% CI: 1.20, 1.45). The stunting rate was halved over three years in programme areas, which is faster than the national trend. We recommend addressing socioeconomic inequalities when tackling stunting and providing targeted interventions to mothers during the early weaning period.

In clinical bacteriology laboratories, reading and processing of sterile plates remain a significant part of the routine workload (30%-40% of the plates). Here, an algorithm was developed for bacterial growth detection starting with any type of specimens and using the most common media in bacteriology. The growth prediction performance of the algorithm for automatic processing of sterile plates was evaluated not only at 18-24 h and 48 h but also at earlier timepoints toward the development of an early growth monitoring system. A total of 3,844 plates inoculated with representative clinical specimens were used. The plates were imaged 15 times, and two different microbiologists read the images randomly and independently, creating 99,944 human ground truths. The algorithm was able, at 48 h, to discriminate growth from no growth with a sensitivity of 99.80% (five false-negative [FN] plates out of 3,844) and a specificity of 91.97%. At 24 h, sensitivity and specificity reached 99.08% and 93.37%, respectively. Interestingly, during human truth reading, growth was reported as early as 4 h, while at 6 h, half of the positive plates were already showing some growth. In this context, automated early growth monitoring in case of normally sterile samples is envisioned to provide added value to the microbiologists, enabling them to prioritize reading and to communicate early detection of bacterial growth to the clinicians.

Objective Height velocity is a crucial anthropometric parameter for the evaluation of mild- or recent-onset short stature; however, there is no data on height velocity in South Indian children. We undertook this study to establish the normative data. Methods This prospective longitudinal study included 3327 apparently healthy children aged three to 18 years from government and private schools of Krishna district, Andhra Pradesh. Height and weight were measured at baseline and three-monthly intervals for one year (October 2018 to October 2019). Results Age- and sex-specific height velocity percentiles were generated. The data was available in 1627 boys and 1700 girls. The mean peak height velocity (PHV) was 7.18±2.56 cm in boys observed at 12-12.9 years and 5.8±2.56 cm in girls at 10-10.9 years. Conclusion Normative height velocity data for South Indian children has been presented.

Temperature plays an essential role in a plant\'s life. The current investigation reveals that photoreceptors, whose activity is affected by the geomagnetic field, are a critical element of its perception. This knowledge suggests that plants\' responses to temperature could shift in different geomagnetic conditions. To test this hypothesis, we studied the change in the growth response of the peat moss Sphagnum riparium to temperature with a gradual increase in the geomagnetic Kp index. Growth data for this species were collected from Karelian mires by detailed monitoring over eight full growing seasons. The growth of 209,490 shoots was measured and 1439 growth rates were obtained for this period. The analysis showed a strong positive dependence of sphagnum growth on temperature (r = 0.58; n = 1439; P = 1.7 × 10-119), which is strongest in the Kp range from 0.87 to 1.61 (r = 0.65; n = 464; P = 4.5 × 10-58). This Kp interval is clearer after removing the seasonal contributions from the growth rate and temperature and is preserved when diurnal temperature is used. Our results are consistent with the hypothesis and show the unknown contribution of the geomagnetic field to the temperature responses of plants.

UNASSIGNED: Anthropometric parameters play vital role in monitoring growth in pediatrics. Many etiological factors lead to short stature. So, before assessing the etiological factors short stature needs to be addressed. This study aimed to screen short stature for age in school-going children aged 5 to 16 years in Uttarakhand.
UNASSIGNED: In this cross-sectional observational study, the height (through stadiometer) and weight (through weight machine) of 4189 students of government and private school in Rishikesh (Uttarakhand) aged 5-16 years were measured after the verbal assent of the students and individual\'s height is in the 3rd percentile for the mean height of a given age, sex, and population group and was considered short stature. The data collection was performed from October 2019 to July 2021. The data were categorized according to different age groups to 5-8 years, 9-12 years, and 13-16 years. The data were recorded in Microsoft (MS) Excel spreadsheet program. Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) v23 (IBM Corp.) was used for data analysis. Descriptive statistics were elaborated in the form of means or standard deviations and medians or Interquartile range IQRs for continuous variables and frequencies and percentages for categorical variables. The Chi-square test was used for group comparisons for categorical data.
UNASSIGNED: 7.1% of children were short stature (height 143.16 ± 15.09 cm) in the Himalayan belt, and males were more prone to short stature at age of 9-12 years.
UNASSIGNED: In the growing phase of children, the etiology of short stature has to be rectified, so the children can achieve such proper growth. Parents and physicians have to assess and monitor the growth of children timely. This study can be a stepping stone for further epidemiological studies.

To derive reference distributions of estimated fetal weight (EFW) in twins relative to singletons.
Gestational-age- and chorionicity-specific reference distributions for singleton percentiles and EFW were fitted to data on 4391 twin pregnancies with two liveborn fetuses from four European centers, including 3323 dichorionic (DC) and 1068 monochorionic diamniotic (MCDA) twin pregnancies. Gestational age was derived using the larger of the two crown-rump length measurements obtained during the first trimester of pregnancy. EFW was obtained from ultrasound measurements of head circumference, abdominal circumference and femur length using the Hadlock formula. Singleton percentiles were obtained using the Fetal Medicine Foundation population weight charts for singleton pregnancies. Hierarchical models were fitted to singleton Z-scores with autoregressive terms for serial correlations within the same fetus and between twins from the same pregnancy. Separate models were fitted for DC and MCDA twins.
Fetuses from twin pregnancies tended to be smaller than singletons at the earliest gestational ages (16 weeks for MCDA and 20 weeks for DC twins). This was followed by a period of catch-up growth until around 24 weeks. After that, both DC and MCDA twins showed reduced growth. In DC twins, the EFW corresponding to the 50th percentile was at the 50th percentile of singleton pregnancies at 23 weeks, the 43rd percentile at 28 weeks, the 32nd percentile at 32 weeks and the 22nd percentile at 36 weeks. In MCDA twins, the EFW corresponding to the 50th percentile was at the 36th percentile of singleton pregnancies at 24 weeks, the 29th percentile at 28 weeks, the 19th percentile at 32 weeks and the 12th percentile at 36 weeks.
In DC and, to a greater extent, MCDA twin pregnancies, fetal growth is reduced compared with that observed in singleton pregnancies. Furthermore, after 24 weeks, the divergence in growth trajectories between twin and singleton pregnancies becomes more pronounced as gestational age increases. © 2023 International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Inadequate routine healthcare check-up visits for children aged three to five years impose substantial economic and social burdens due to morbidity and mortality. The absence of regular well-child visits and vaccinations leads to avoidable diseases, underscoring the need for a renewed emphasis on childhood immunizations and check-ups. Out of 160 articles initially screened after removing duplicates, 45 were chosen for full-text review following initial title and abstract screening by two independent reviewers. Afterward, 20 studies met the predefined inclusion criteria during the final assessment of full-text articles, and data were systematically extracted from these selected studies using standardized forms to ensure accuracy and consistency. Well-child visits promote holistic development, health, and well-being in children aged three to five years. Following established guidelines and evidence-based practices, healthcare professionals provide assessments, vaccinations, and guidance for a healthy future. Despite challenges, well-child visits are vital for preventive care, empowering informed decisions for children\'s growth and development. The benefits of well-child visits encompass growth monitoring, anticipatory guidance, and preventive measures, crucial for children with chronic illnesses. Key components include comprehensive assessments, developmental screenings, vision and hearing evaluations, immunizations, health education, and counseling. In the case of juvenile diabetes, parental education is paramount. Parents need to understand the intricacies of insulin administration, including proper dosage calculation based on glucose measurements, meal planning, and the importance of timing insulin injections. Implementing guidelines and principles by organizations such as Bright Futures and the American Academy of Pediatrics ensures holistic care, parent involvement, and evidence-based practices. This review explores best practices and guidelines for such visits, emphasizing their role in monitoring and promoting children\'s development.

To compare morbidity, as measured by length of stay in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), in twin and singleton gestations classified as small-for-gestational age (SGA) according to estimated fetal weight < 10th percentile on twin or singleton growth charts.
NICU length of stay was compared in 1150 twins and 29 035 singletons that underwent ultrasound assessment between 35 + 0 and 36 + 6 weeks\' gestation. Estimated fetal weight was obtained from measurements of head circumference, abdominal circumference and femur length using the Hadlock formula. Gestational age was derived from the first-trimester crown-rump length measurement, using the larger of the two twins. Singletons and twins were compared in terms of NICU admission rate and length of stay according to classification as SGA by the Fetal Medicine Foundation singleton and twin reference distributions.
The overall proportions of twins and singletons admitted to NICU were similar (7.3% vs 7.4%), but twins tended to have longer lengths of stay in NICU (≥ 7 days: 2.4% vs 0.8%; relative risk (RR), 3.0 (95% CI, 1.6-4.4)). Using the singleton chart, a higher proportion of twins were classified as SGA compared with singletons (37.6% vs 7.0%). However, the proportion of SGA neonates entering NICU was similar (10.2% for twins and 10.1% for singletons) and the proportion of SGA neonates spending ≥ 7 days in NICU was substantially higher for twins compared with singletons (3.7% vs 1.4%; RR, 2.6 (95% CI, 1.4-4.7)).
When singleton charts are used to define SGA in twins and in singletons, there is a greater degree of growth-related neonatal morbidity amongst SGA twins compared with SGA singletons. Consequently, singleton charts do not inappropriately overdiagnose fetal growth restriction in twins and they should be used for monitoring fetal growth in both twins and singletons. © 2023 International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.