ABSTRACT
Socioeconomic inequality and child maltreatment have not been studied using the concentration index as an indicator of inequality. The study aimed to assess the association of child maltreatment with socioeconomic status among schoolchildren in Qazvin province, Islamic Republic of Iran. In this cross-sectional study a questionnaire based on the ISPCAN Child Maltreatment Screening Tool-Children's Version and the Juvenile Victimization Questionnaire was filled by 1028 children aged 9-14 years, selected through multistage stratified random sampling. The concentration indices for economic inequality were -0.086 for any type of child maltreatment and -0.155, -0.098 and -0.139 for the physical, psychological and neglect subtypes of maltreatment respectively. The number of children and the economic status of the family also showed a significant association with child maltreatment in all 3 subtypes. Appropriate planning for effective interventions for at-risk children of lower socioeconomic status should be considered by the relevant decision-makers.
Subject(s)
Child Abuse/statistics & numerical data , Social Class , Adolescent , Child , Cross-Sectional Studies , Female , Humans , Iran/epidemiology , Male , Surveys and QuestionnairesSubject(s)
Arachnid Vectors , Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical , Ornithodoros , Relapsing Fever/congenital , Relapsing Fever/transmission , Animals , Arachnid Vectors/microbiology , Blood Cell Count , Endemic Diseases/statistics & numerical data , Female , Humans , Infant, Newborn , Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical/statistics & numerical data , Iran/epidemiology , Jaundice, Neonatal/microbiology , Male , Muscle Weakness/microbiology , Neonatal Screening , Ornithodoros/microbiology , Pregnancy , Relapsing Fever/diagnosis , Relapsing Fever/drug therapy , Relapsing Fever/epidemiologyABSTRACT
The duration of protection after hepatitis B vaccination in children is unknown. We determined the serum level of antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen (anti-HBsAg) in 273 randomly selected 7-9-year-old schoolchildren from Zanjan City, Islamic Republic of Iran, who had been fully vaccinated against hepatitis B starting at birth. Titres < or = 10 mlU/mL were considered unprotective. Just over half of the children (52%) had titres < or = 10 mlU/mL with no difference between the sexes, while 81 (29.7%) had no anti-HBsAg (0 mlU/mL). Three of the children had antibodies to hepatitis B core protein. More studies are needed to determine the necessity for or timing of booster doses.
Subject(s)
Hepatitis B Surface Antigens/blood , Hepatitis B Vaccines/immunology , Hepatitis B/prevention & control , Immunization Programs/organization & administration , Perinatal Care/organization & administration , Vaccination , Child , Child Welfare/statistics & numerical data , Cross-Sectional Studies , Female , Hepatitis B/epidemiology , Hepatitis B/immunology , Hepatitis B Core Antigens/blood , Humans , Immunization, Secondary , Infant, Newborn , Iran/epidemiology , Male , Needs Assessment , Population Surveillance , Seroepidemiologic Studies , Time Factors , Urban Health/statistics & numerical data , Vaccination/methodsABSTRACT
The duration of protection after hepatitis B vaccination in children is unknown. We determined the serum level of antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen [anti-HBsAg] in 273 randomly selected 7-9-year-old schoolchildren from Zanjan City, Islamic Republic of Iran, who had been fully vaccinated against hepatitis B starting at birth. Titres </= 10 mIU/mL were considered unprotective. Just over half of the children [52%] had titres </= 10 mIU/mL with no difference between the sexes, while 81 [29.7%] had no anti-HBsAg [0 mIU/mL]. Three of the children had antibodies to hepatitis B core protein. More studies are needed to determine the necessity for or timing of booster doses
