ABSTRACT
Objective To understand the status of mental health among left-behind children in rural area and to explore its relationship with social capital.Methods A sample of 1 031 leftbehind children,aged 10-18 years,was randomly selected from six schools of two townships in Macheng city of Hubei province where large number of rural parents were working in the urban area.Data from a cross-sectional survey was collected among the sampled students from primary,middle and high schools,using self-designed questionnaires which targeting the ‘ left-behind’ condition and social capital Mental Health Inventory of Middle-School Students (MMHI-60).Chi-square test was used to compare the differences in mental health among different groups.Spearman correlation and logistical regression analysis were applied to assess the relationship between social capital and mental health.Results The prevalence of mental problems was 54.12％.Results from linear x2 test indicated that the detection rates of mental problems were parallel with the monthly pocket money and the reduction in the frequency of contacting migrant father/mother (P＜0.01).Results from the multiple logistic regression analysis indicated that students who were senior (OR=2.410-2.682,P＜0.001),and who reported not caring about their parents (OR =2.048-2.420,P＜ 0.001) were at increased risks for mental health problems.After controlling the demographic characteristics and conditions of staying relevant factors,family social capital (OR =0.845,95％ CI:0.801-0.891),neighborhood social capital (OR=0.867,95％CI:0.826-0.910) and school social capital (OR=0.893,95％CI:0.863-0.923) were all associated with declined risks of mental health problems,in which the family social capital was the most important one.Conclusion The prevalence of mental health problems was high among the left-behind children in rural area.Much attention should be paid to assist these children in improving their mental health status.One promising approach appeared to be improving social capitals which would include family social capital,neighborhood social capital,and school social capital to assist these children from avoiding mental health problems.
ABSTRACT
Objective To understand the status on care and nutrition of children living in the rural areas (so called 'left-behind' children) while their parents were seeking for jobs in the urban areas. Methods Cross-sectional study was employed in this investigation.The group of‘left-behind' children (n=774) and the comparison group (n=774) were identified.The ascertainment methods mainly included questionnaire,anthropometries measurements,food-frequency,and laboratory examination.Results be poorly attended (X2=6.671,P=0.036;X2=15.053,P=0.001 ).Mothers who chose to work outside of their households would tend to choose bottle-feeding or decrease the duration of breastfeeding for their infants (X2=5.051,P=0.031;t=-7.201,P=0.001).The intake of milk and bean products in children were obviously lower than that seen in the control group (t=-2.150,P=0.032 ;t=-2.054,significant difference when comparing with the control group (X2=4.560,P=0.033 ).Conclusion communities,parents and extended families would facilitate more attention and effective intervention programs to improve the situation.