Mother-child interaction and the development status of children who have been accidentally poisoned.

Positive parent-child interaction, in particular bond between mother and child, is important for the mental and behavioral development of children. The aim of this study was to evaluate both mother-child interactions as well as the developmental status of children admitted to the pediatric emergency department with accidental poisoning using Parenting Interactions with Children: Checklist of Observations Linked to Outcomes tool (PICCOLO) and Denver Developmental Screening Test-II (DDST-II). Children between ages 1 to 5 years who were admitted to the emergency department with accidental poisoning were included in the study alongside a control group selected from healthy volunteers. A ten-minute video recording was obtained both for the case and control groups, while the mother and her child played together in a separate room. The interaction of mother-infant pair was assessed using the PICCOLO tool. The children`s development was examined using the DDST-II. The video recordings of 115 children (n=65 in the case group and n=50 in the control group) were evaluated. A high score of PICCOLO-teaching domain (≥9 points) was associated with a 3.3-fold increase in terms of risk of poisoning [p < 0.05, at 95% confidence interval (CI) of 1.34-8.37]. Multivariable analysis revealed that the PICCOLO-teaching domain was a significant factor. A high proportion of cases had either abnormal or questionable DDST-II scores (p < 0.05). In order to improve the bond between mother and child, drug poisoning prevention training must be meticulously provided to both mothers and children alike. Developmental assessments of these children as a holistic approach also should not be forgotten.

Hepatitis A virus age-specific seroprevalence after the implementation of a Toddlers' Vaccination in Turkey: Shifting susceptibility to adolescents.

AIM: In Turkey, improvements in sanitation and the implementation of a vaccination program resulted in reduced rates of childhood exposure to hepatitis A virus. The incidence of symptoms and the complications of the disease are known to be increased in later ages. We aimed to describe changes in the seroprevalence of hepatitis A virus from the pre-vaccine era (2012) to the post-vaccine era (2018) in different age groups. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Levels of anti-hepatitis A virus immunoglobulin (Ig)-G of patients with no chronic disease and who were admitted to our hospital between 2013-2018 were obtained retrospectively from a single children's hospital database system. RESULTS: A total of 3238 subjects were enrolled in the study (2820 children, 418 adults). The overall percentage of seropositivity was 60.5% in group 1 (age ≤2 years), 57.9% in group 2 (age 2-6 years), 31.2% in group 3 (age 7-11 years), 32.7% in group 4 (age 12-18 years), 44.6% in group 5 (age 19-24 years), and 73.9% in group 6 (age >25 years). Between 2013-2018, the increase in the number of seropositive individuals in group 2 (p<0.01), and the decrease in groups 3 and 4 were statistically significant from 2013 to 2018 (p=0.028, p<0.01). CONCLUSION: According to the data of this single-center children's hospital in Turkey, hepatitis A virus seropositivity increases significantly in the preschool age group, but decreases in school-age children and adolescents after vaccination.

A comparison between adolescent mothers and adult mothers in terms of maternal and infant outcomes at follow-ups.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the risk factors of adolescent pregnancies and to ascertain the effects of this condition on the maternal and infant outcomes. METHODS: The study was carried out on 100 adolescent mothers less than 20 years of age and on a same number of adult mothers between 22 and 32 years of age and their infants. A socio-demographic attributes questionnaire form, a pregnancy follow-up and birth history form, and a mother and infant follow-up form were used. RESULTS: The mean age of the adolescent mothers was 17.8 ± 0.7 years and that of the adult mothers was 26 ± 0.3 years. Income level of 83% of the families of adolescent mothers and 69% of the families of adult mothers was below the poverty line (p < 0.05). Dropout rate (i.e. rate of those not attending any school) was 36% in the adolescent group and 21% in the adult group. Rate of exclusively breastfeeding during the first 2 months was 40% in adolescents and 62% in adults (p < 0.01). Higher rates of adolescent mothers felt themselves inadequate infant care and with 7% of them experiencing problems in accessing a healthcare institution. CONCLUSIONS: Properly following up adolescent pregnancies during prenatal and postnatal periods may be helpful for preventing the negative impacts on mother and infant health.