European Journal of Public Health
Volume 26, Issue 1, 2016, Pages 18-23

Do different parenting patterns impact the health and physical growth of 'left-behind' preschool-aged children? A cross-sectional study in rural China (Article) (Open Access)

Mo X.* , Xu L. , Luo H. , Wang X. , Zhang F. , Gai Tobe R.
  • a Department of Health Management and Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Shandong University, No.44 Wen-Hua-Xi Road, Jinan, 250012, China
  • b Department of Health Management and Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Shandong University, No.44 Wen-Hua-Xi Road, Jinan, 250012, China
  • c Department of Health Management and Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Shandong University, No.44 Wen-Hua-Xi Road, Jinan, 250012, China
  • d Department of Health Management and Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Shandong University, No.44 Wen-Hua-Xi Road, Jinan, 250012, China
  • e Center for Disease Control and Prevention of the City of Liaocheng, Shandong Province, China
  • f Department of Health Management and Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Shandong University, No.44 Wen-Hua-Xi Road, Jinan, 250012, China

Abstract

Background: Many migrants from rural China seek work in urban areas and leave their children in their home villages to be raised by relatives. These children are often referred to as 'left-behind children'. Parental migration tends to have a profound impact on a child's growth. This study sought to assess the prevalence of illness and malnutrition among children in rural areas raised with different parenting patterns and to explore factors affecting their health and development. Method: A cross-sectional survey was conducted to examine the physical health of children raised with different parenting patterns and to explore associated risk factors. In total, this study examined 735 children ages 3-6 years in eight rural villages in two counties of Shandong Province. Their primary caregivers were interviewed with a semi-structured questionnaire. Anthropometric measurements of the children were taken and their nutritional status was determined according to WHO Child Growth Standards. Results: This study found a relatively high prevalence of wasting, overweight and obesity among left-behind children. After potential confounders were controlled for, the parenting pattern, annual household income and health literacy of the primary caregiver significantly influenced the health and developmental indicators of children. Conclusions: This study highlighted the impact of the characteristics of the primary caregiver on a child's health and development and the importance of practical interventions for preschool-aged children who are left behind and raised with different parenting patterns. © 2015 The Author 2015. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Public Health Association. All rights reserved.

Author Keywords

[No Keywords available]

Index Keywords

wasting syndrome Body Weights and Measures China Caregivers human Overweight statistics and numerical data rural population health status family size Family Characteristics Cross-Sectional Studies cross-sectional study Humans male preschool child Socioeconomic Factors Infant risk factor Risk Factors Child, Preschool socioeconomics female Parenting Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice morphometry Pediatric Obesity Child Development attitude to health caregiver child parent relation Child
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84962016168&doi=10.1093%2feurpub%2fckv181&partnerID=40&md5=d09ddf3620461a39adfd09b26361456d
DOI: 10.1093/eurpub/ckv181
ISSN: 11011262
Cited by: 8
Original Language: English