[Development of national neglect norms for children aged 3 to 6 years in rural areas of China].

OBJECTIVE: To develop the national neglect norms for rural children aged 3 to 6 years, which are suitable for Chinese situations. METHODS: According to the multi-stage stratified cluster sampling principle, 84 towns of 10 provinces or municipalities were selected in China. Children aged 3 to 6 years were surveyed in November 2010, the sample of analysis were 3240 (of whom males were 49.6% (1608/3240) and the Han nationality were 93.3% (3023/3240)). Questionnaire was designed by authors and deleted items that did not meet the requirements through several statistical analysis methods, such as item analysis method, factor analysis method, reliability analysis method. The reliability analysis and validity analysis were used to test the stability and reliability of the norm. The evaluation criteria of the scale was determined by the percentile method, then the initial development of the norm completed. RESULTS: After deleting inappropriate items by statistical processing, finally, the scale consisted of 57 items, and included 6 neglected dimensions (physical neglect, emotional neglect, educational neglect, safe neglect, medical neglect and social neglect). Its item loadings ranged from 0.359 to 0.789, which met the statistical requirements. The scale's total Cronbach α coefficients 0.904, the total split-half reliability coefficients were 0.820, the 6 neglect dimensions' Cronbach α coefficients ranged from 0.620 to 0.815, the 6 neglect dimensions' split-half reliability coefficients ranged from -0.034 to 0.789, the scale's parallel reliability were 0.785 and it's re-test reliability were 0.613. After construct validity, external validity and content validity testing, the result showed that this scale could effectively reflect the real neglected status of children investigated. The total neglect cut-off score of this scale were 121. CONCLUSION: The scale has good stability and reliability. And it adapts Chinese conditions and it's convenient to operate.

[The status of child neglect among rural areas children aged 0 - 6 years in China].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the status of child neglect among rural areas children aged 0 - 6 years in China. METHODS: A total of 7411 rural children aged 0 - 6 years old who were composed of two age groups (3315 children aged 0 - 2 years old and 4096 children aged 3 - 6 years old) were multistage stratified randomly sampled from 84 villages which were representative of 10 provinces of China, in accordance with sex and age in November 2010. To identify the child neglect based on the Neglect Norms for Children Aged 0 to 2 and 3 to 6 Years Old in Rural Areas of China, SPSS 13.0 was employed for analyzing neglect frequency and degree for every group of different age, sex and neglect type (including physical, emotional, educational, medical, safety and social neglects). χ(2) test and analysis of variance were also used. RESULTS: The degree of child neglect for the children aged 0 - 2 years old was 45.01 ± 7.56, the neglect frequency was 54.9% (1819/3315); the degree of child neglect for the children aged 3 - 6 years old was 44.42 ± 7.57, the neglect frequency was 53.8% (2203/4096). The neglect frequency of children aged 0, 1, 2 years old were 58.5% (654/1117), 52.2% (597/1144), 53.9% (568/1054) (P < 0.05). For children aged 3 - 6 years old, the degrees of emotional and safety neglect for males (44.60 ± 7.86, 36.82 ± 9.03) were higher than females (44.03 ± 7.72, 36.25 ± 9.05) (P < 0.05); and the frequencies of emotional and social neglect for males (16.8% (349/2072), 28.3% (586/2072)) were also higher than females (14.1% (286/2024), 24.8% (503/2024)) (P < 0.05). All children of two age groups suffered neglect mainly on one of the six neglect types (incidences were 20.6% (683/3315) and 22.7% (931/4096)). For 0-2 age groups, the higher neglect frequencies happened in the single-parent family and the remarried family (62.5% (15/24) and 63.2% (12/19)), but for children aged 3 - 6 years old groups, it happened in the single-parent family (60.0%, 27/45). CONCLUSION: Degree and frequency of child neglect among children aged 0 to 6 years old in the rural areas of China are high, and we should find out risk factors and provide efficient prevention measures.

[Initial temperature for the development of Schistosoma japonicum larvae in Oncomelania hupensis].

OBJECTIVE: To study the impact of environmental temperature on the development of Schistosoma japonicum larvae within the Oncomelania hupensis. METHODS: Oncomelania snails, collected from the field and free of S. japonicum infection, were exposed to miracidiae of S. japonicum in a ratio of 1:20 and raised at 30 degrees C, 27 degrees C, 24 degrees C, 21 degrees C and 18 degrees C, respectively. The prepatent period of larvae within the Oncomelania hupensis and the developmental velocity were determined, of which the relationship with the temperature was analysed. RESULTS: The average prepatent period of cercariae in snail was (128.89 +/- 16.05) d, (95.00 +/- 21.03) d, (71.93 +/- 12.74) d and (62.74 +/- 14.19) d at 21 degrees C, 24 degrees C, 27 degrees C, 30 degrees C, respectively. The regression formulation between prepatent period and temperature was y = 730.68x(-0.8918) (r = 0.9976, P < 0.01). And the regression formulation between developmental velocity of S. japonicum larvae in snail and temperature was y = 0.0235ln(x) -0.0639 (r = 0.9973, P < 0.01). It was derived that the unitial temperature for the development of S. japonicum within the snails was 15.17 degrees C +/- 0.43 degree C. CONCLUSION: The development of S. japonicum larvae within the Oncomelania snails declines with the decrease of temperature.

[Sensitivity of Oncomelania snail to niclosamide in China].

OBJECTIVE: To understand the variation in response of Oncomelania hupensis to niclosamide. METHODS: Snails were collected from 37 sampling areas distributed in 10 provinces (municipalities) using random environmental sampling methods in accordance with the different types and categories of snail habitats. In laboratory the snails were immersed in solutions of niclosamide for 24 and 48 hours at 25 degrees C. RESULTS: 1.0 mg/L niclosamide showed 100% killing effect on snails in 24 hours. The LC50 concentrations for snails immersed for 24 hours ranged from 0.0320 to 0.1689 mg/L with a mean value of 0.0920 mg/L. 0.5 mg/L niclosamide showed 100% killing effect on snails in 48 hours. The LC50 values for snails immersed for 48 hours ranged between 0.0299 and 0.1114 mg/L with a mean of 0.0627 mg/L. There is a significant difference in snail sensitivity to niclosamide between sampling areas. CONCLUSION: The sensitivity to niclosamide varied in snails from different sampling fields, but the chemical in a concentration of 1.0 mg/L showed 100% effect of killing snails, which is consistent to the manual of schistosomiasis control.

[Technology of preventing oncomelania snail diffusion in east route of South-to-North Water Diversion Project II. Effect of sand buried and reed protection on snail control in area of water source].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of sand buried and reed protection on Oncomelania snail control in the area of water source of the east route of South-to-North Water Diversion Project. METHODS: The Oncomelania snail eggs were counted after the snails raised seven days in the sand of different contents in the spawning period. The survival of the snails was observed when the snails were raised on the sand surface in the laboratory. The change of the densities of living snails and reed growth were observed in the area of water source. RESULTS: The snails did not lay eggs in the pure sand environment. There was a negative correlation between the number of snail eggs and the content of sand (r = -0.965, P = 0.008). The mortality rates of the snails were increasing with the increase of the time in the sand environment. The mortality rates of the snails were 96.00% and 100% when the snails were raised 3 months and 6 months around 25 degrees C respectively. The field test showed that the snails were not discovered after the sand buried, the second spring, after the flood season, and the third spring. However, the density of living snails of the control group dropped by 93.65% 2 weeks after using molluscicide, but increased by 100% and kept in 0.37 snails/0.1 m2 after the flood season and the third year spring, respectively. The reed growth was good in the second spring after the sand buried. CONCLUSIONS: The sand environment is unfavorable for laying eggs and survival of the snails. The sand buried method has the effects of snail control and reed protection. In addition, the method could also prevent the snail spread in the flood season.

[Development of the National Norms of Negligence on children aged 0 to 35 months in rural areas of China].

OBJECTIVE: To develop the National Norms of Negligence (NNN) for rural children aged 0 to 35 months. METHODS: According to multi-stage stratified cluster sampling principle, 10 provinces or municipalities (Jilin, Shanxi, Shanxi, Beijing, Anhui, Jiangsu, Hunan, Hubei, Yunnan, Chongqing) in China were selected. A national research group was formed collaboratively. A questionnaire was designed by ourselves. According to several statistical analysis methods, such as item, factor and reliability analysis etc. we determined the norm. The evaluation criteria of the scale were determined by percentile method. Finally, the reliability and validity of the norm were evaluated. RESULTS: In total, 2310 children were surveyed, in which the effective sample were 2227, with an effective rate as 96.4%. The scale consisted of 6 neglected dimensions and 65 items in total. The total Cronbach's a coefficient of the scale was 0.903, with the split-half reliability coefficient as 0.829, the parallel reliability as 0.720 and the re-test reliability as 0.678, respectively. The total neglect cut-off score of this scale was 139. CONCLUSION: The scale seemed to have perfect stability and reliability and all the statistical indicators met the psychometric demands.

[Association of vitamin D receptor gene Apa I polymorphism with vitamin D deficiency rickets].

OBJECTIVE: To study the association between vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene Apa I polymorphism and vitamin D deficiency rickets in children of Shanxi Han ethnic group, and to explore the significance of individual hereditary factors in the development of rickets. METHODS: This was a case control study. The grouping criteria were serum 25(OH)D(3) level, blood bone alkaline phosphatase and clinical symptom, respectively. The laboratory test methods were enzyme linked immunoassay and radioimmunoassay. PCR-RFLP technology was applied to examine VDR gene Apa I site polymorphism and Hardy-Weinberg hereditary balance test was used to examine the coincidence of gene distribution. RESULTS: Frequencies of AA, Aa and aa genotypes were 5.0%, 52.5% and 42.5% in the rickets group and 4.4%, 55.9% and 39.7% in the control group, respectively. Frequencies of A and a genotypes were 31.3% and 68.7% in the rickets group and 32.3% and 67.7% in the control group, respectively. There was not significant difference in the frequency distribution of VDR genotype and allelic genes between two groups (chi(2) = 0.089, P > 0.05; chi(2) = 0.028, P > 0.05). There was significant difference in the serum 25(OH)D(3) between two groups (t = -8.919, P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: The distribution of VDR gene Apa I polymorphism in children of Han ethnic group is balanced relatively. The Frequency of a allelic genes is 67.7% which is therefore the superior gene. VDR gene polymorphism might not be important in an individual's susceptibility to development of vitamin D deficiency.

[Study on the current situation and influential factors of child neglect among aged 3-6 year-olds in the urban areas of China].

OBJECTIVE: Children aged 3 - 6 years in the urban areas of China were surveyed for the first time to find out the state of child neglect (CN) as well as the major relevant risk factors so as to provide evidence for developing intervention measures. METHODS: 1163 children (of whom 49.6% were males and 4.5% were minority nationality) were randomly sampled under multistage stratification, from 25 cities which representing 15 provinces of China. Based on the Child Neglect Norms used by China, prevalence of CN was identified and SPSS-Windows 11.0 was employed for statistical analysis. Scores, frequency/degrees, age, sex and 5 types (physical, emotional, educational, medical and safety) of CN on every group of the regions, were calculated. Multifactorial analysis was conducted through Binary Logistic Regression and multiple linear regression to determine the relevant risk factors. RESULTS: (1) The average degree of CN for the 3 - 6 year-olds was 42.2, with its prevalence as 28.0%. Degrees of CN for the groups of 3, 4, 5, 6-year-olds were 41.7, 42.2, 42.1 and 43.1 (F = 0.988, P > 0.05), with frequencies of 25.0%, 25.3%, 27.9% and 35.4% (chi(2) = 4.798, P > 0.05), respectively. Degrees for CN in males and females were 42.7 and 41.8 (F = 2.502, P > 0.05) with the frequencies as 32.6% and 23.7% (chi(2) = 6.585, P < 0.05), respectively. Degrees of CN for the five types were 39.4-43.4 with the frequencies as 5.1%-12.9%, respectively. No significant difference was found in the frequency of the types (with an exception on 'physical neglect') between males and females (P > 0.05). The highest frequency (42.9%) of CN was seen in the single-parent families and the lowest in large family with three generations (25.5%). (2) According to monofactorial chi(2) test, the possible risk factors of CN would include: educational background, occupation and decrease of income of the parents during last year, etc. (3) Binary Logistic regression analysis showed that the influential factors to the occurrence of CN would include: father's educational background, sex of the child and mother's occupation, etc. (4) Multiple linear regression showed that the influential factors to the degree of CN were: family structure, number of supporting family members, relationship between parents and children, etc. CONCLUSION: The degree and frequency of CN among children aged 3 to 6 in the urban areas of China were high but similar among the four age groups. Male children had a higher frequency of neglect than females, but with similar degree. Children in single-parent families had the highest frequency. The major influential factors of CN would include: educational background, occupation, family structure, family income of the parents which were similar to the results reported from foreign literature.