[Factors associated with malnutrition among infants and young children aged 6-23 months in poor rural areas in Hunan Province, China]

Prevalence and Temporal Trend (2016-2018) of Anaemia among 6-23-Month-Old Infants and Young Children in China

Anaemia is a public health problem that can lead to various harmful effects on physical and neurodevelopment in infants and young children (IYC). This study aimed to investigate trends of anaemia and haemoglobin concentration among 6- to 23-month-old Chinese IYC from 2016 to 2018. We used data from the China Nutrition Improvement Project on Children in Poor Areas (CNIPCPA), conducted in 142 national-level poor counties of 20 provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities from 2016 to 2018. Our study included 103,621 6- to 23-month-old IYC selected by a stratified multistage cluster sampling design. There were 26,303, 33,443, and 43,875 IYC in the survey in 2016, 2017, and 2018, respectively. The overall prevalence of anaemia was 27.0% in the three years. The prevalence of anaemia was 28.0%, 27.2%, and 26.2%, and the mean haemoglobin (Hb) was 11.82, 11.81, and 11.88 g/dL in 2016, 2017, and 2018, respectively. The prevalence of anaemia was highest in 6- to 11-month-olds, and declined with age. There was a gap in the education level between parents. However, the percentage of education improved in the rural areas of China. The prevalence of anaemia decreased significantly in the three years, which shows that prevention and control actions achieved the initial results.

Intentions and influencing factors regarding natural childbirth among urban pregnant women in China, based on the theory of reasoned action and structural equation modeling

Objectives

In the present study, we aimed to analyze the status of natural childbirth and factors influencing delivery behaviors among pregnant women in urban areas based on the theory of reasoned action, to provide a basis for health education on natural childbirth.

Methods

We recruited 658 pregnant women at West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University. Using a literature review, expert consultation, and self-report questionnaires based on the theory of reasoned action, we investigated delivery behaviors and influencing factors among the included pregnant women. The questionnaires primarily comprised general situations and behavioral intentions regarding natural childbirth among pregnant women. The data were analyzed using IBM SPSS 21.0 software.

Results

According to structural equation modeling, participants’ behavioral intentions regarding natural childbirth were influenced by normative beliefs (standardized regression coefficient 0.402), outcome evaluation (standardized regression coefficient 0.123), and behavioral beliefs (standardized regression coefficient 0.316). Conformity motivation and knowledge about childbirth affected the choice of natural childbirth via normative beliefs (standardized regression coefficients 0.431 and 0.338, respectively).

Conclusions

We found that the behavioral intentions of urban pregnant women with respect to natural childbirth were affected by normative beliefs, outcome evaluations, behavioral beliefs, conformity motivation, and knowledge about childbirth.