International Journal of Neonatal Care and Pediatric Nursing

Unheard Voices: Exploring the Unmet Needs of Children with Disability

Cindy Lalpekhlui, Blessy Susan Biji — Thu, 12 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Children with disabilities face unique challenges that extend beyond medical diagnoses, which include educational, psychosocial, and community-related needs. Despite international recognition of disability rights, many of these needs remain unmet, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). These unmet needs extend beyond medical care to include psychosocial support, educational accommodations, protection from abuse, and access to appropriate community services. In India, disability has been associated with values and beliefs deeply embedded in cultural traditions for over a century. Thoughts, attitudes, and perceptions are manifestations of these philosophies and ideologies, and they have a significant impact on how people with disabilities are perceived. In India, people with disabilities are often viewed as victims of "personal tragedy" or "individual problems" who need compassion. This review synthesizes evidence from studies conducted in diverse settings, including India, Ethiopia, multi-country scoping reviews, and the United States, to illustrate the scope of unmet needs among children with disabilities. Findings indicate that children with disabilities require significantly more health services, specialized education, and family support than their peers. However, barriers such as stigma, poverty, cultural explanatory models, and structural inequities prevent equitable access to services. Addressing these unmet needs requires coordinated health and education policies, culturally appropriate interventions, and sustained investment in caregiver and family support.

Case Report on Esophageal Perforation in a Neonate from Congenital Web Rupture

Rutuja Dive, Kavita Gomase — Tue, 17 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Background: Esophageal perforation in neonates is an uncommon but potentially fatal condition, most often associated with iatrogenic injury or congenital anomalies. Congenital esophageal webs are rare and may remain asymptomatic until disrupted, leading to acute complications. Awareness of such rare etiologies is critical for early diagnosis and appropriate management.

Case Presentation: The author reports the case of a term neonate who presented with excessive drooling, choking during feeds, and progressive respiratory distress. Radiographic evaluation revealed mediastinal air and contrast extravasation, consistent with a distal esophageal perforation. Further imaging identified a thin congenital esophageal web proximal to the perforation site, suggesting rupture as the underlying cause. The infant remained hemodynamically stable with a contained leak.

Nursing Intervention: Key nursing interventions included strict cessation of oral feeding, continuous monitoring of respiratory status, nasogastric decompression, administration of intravenous antibiotics, and initiation of parenteral nutrition. Nurses played a central role in monitoring for signs of sepsis, maintaining fluid and nutritional balance, and providing supportive care while minimizing further esophageal instrumentation.

Outcome: The infant was managed conservatively following multidisciplinary evaluation. Over several weeks, clinical symptoms resolved, and follow-up imaging demonstrated complete healing of the esophageal perforation without the need for surgical intervention.

Conclusion: This case highlights rupture of a congenital esophageal web as a rare cause of neonatal esophageal perforation. Nonspecific initial symptoms can delay diagnosis, underscoring the importance of early imaging and clinical vigilance. Conservative management, supported by meticulous nursing care and multidisciplinary collaboration, can result in excellent outcomes in selected cases. Clinicians should consider congenital esophageal anomalies in neonates presenting with persistent feeding difficulties and unexplained respiratory distress.

A Study to Evaluate the Knowledge among Mothers of Children Under-Five Regarding the Prevalence of Nutritional Deficiencies at a Selected Balwadi Centre

Dr. Gopinath Subramanian — Fri, 06 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Maternal awareness of nutritional deficiencies is sometimes variable, with various studies indicating a mix of moderate comprehension and significant information gaps, particularly in developing regions. Mothers may have a basic awareness of child nutrition, although they frequently lack in-depth information about identifying and managing specific micronutrient deficiencies, such as iron, iodine, and Vitamin A, which can negatively affect maternal and child health. The study aimed to assess the awareness of nutritional deficit prevalence among moms with less than five children. This study employs an evaluative quantitative technique to analyse the knowledge and practices related to nutritional deficiencies among mothers of fewer than five children. The target population for this study comprises children under five years of age with nutritional deficiencies and their mothers at selected Balawadi centres in Gudur. The target population for this study comprises children under five years of age with nutritional deficiencies and mothers of fewer than five children at the designated Balawadi Centre in Gudur. The sample for this study consists of mothers with less than five children at the designated balawadi centre in Gudur. This study employs a simple random sampling technique. This study demonstrated the assessment of knowledge among less than five moms of children concerning the occurrence of nutritional deficit. The research was carried out at the Balawadi Centre in Gudur. The data indicates that, concerning maternal knowledge levels, 13 (26%) exhibit weak knowledge, 29 (58%) possess moderate knowledge, and 8 (16%) demonstrate strong knowledge. The study found that the majority of mothers possess an inadequate understanding of dietary deficiencies. Research often reveals that a significant number of mothers have limited or inadequate knowledge regarding the specific, long-term effects of deficiencies, such as anaemia, on baby development.

Mothers' Knowledge about Intestinal Parasitic Infections among Pre-School Children at Primary Health Care Centers

Rusul Ali Kadhim — Fri, 06 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Intestinal parasitic infections constitute a major health problem that adversely affects the population, involving in excess of one billion people worldwide. Preschool children represent a particularly vulnerable population at elevated risk of infection. Maternal knowledge deficits about proper food hygiene practices and personal sanitation represent serious risk factors contributing to the transmission of intestinal parasitic infections among children. Adequate knowledge, a good attitude, and preventive practice against this infection can significantly mitigate the spread of intestinal infection. The current study aims to assess the level of mothers' knowledge about intestinal parasitic infections for pre-school children and examine the association between the descriptive, cross-sectional study design, which was performed from April 15th, 2025, to October 29th, 2025. A total of (210) mother samples were collected from the Primary Health Care Centers in Al-Najaf city, Iraq. A (113) male child was (53.8%), mother’s jobs were (66.2%) of them housewives, primary school was the highest percentage level (32.9%). The general mean showed that the mothers have a good level of knowledge about intestinal worms. Personal characteristics of mothers, such as the number of children in the home, mothers’ job, and their levels of education, show a significant association when (P ≤ 0.05). The current study revealed that the majority of mothers have good knowledge about intestinal worms. Raising awareness about intestinal worms by publishing posters and establishing more programs of continuing education. Advising mothers to visit the nearest healthcare center if they notice any signs or symptoms of Intestinal parasitic infections.

Knowledge of Parents (Attending Consultant Paediatric Clinic, University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Nigeria) about Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Wed, 11 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Background: A normal child brings joy and happiness in to the family. Even a child with neuro-developmental problem like Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder can bring joy and happiness into the family if the child is properly taken care of.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess the knowledge of parents of children with ADHD who are attending the Consultant Pediatric Clinic University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH).

Method: A descriptive study design was used for the study. The population was made up of all parents that attended the Consultant Pediatric clinic in UPTH at the time of study. Target population was 71 parents and all were used (census) as sample size because the number is small. Convenient sampling technique was applied during the distribution of the Questionnaire on the Knowledge of the Management and Effects on Parents of Children with ADHD (QKMEPCA), the instrument for data collection. The instrument was developed by the researchers. 71 copies of the QKMEPCA were distributed and retrieved. The QKMEPCA was made up of two sections: section A contained the demographic data while section B contained questions on the variables under study. The data were analyzed using frequency tables, bar and pie charts.

Results: The findings showed that majority of the parents 44 (61.97%) did not know what ADHD is all about. On the perception of parents towards children with ADHD, many of the respondents 27 (38.03%), feel that children with ADHD are abnormal, 20 (28.17%) feel that they are normal while 24 (33.80%) could not respond to either ‘’Yes’’ or ‘’No’’, then 44 (61.97%) feel that the condition cannot be managed and that it has negative effect on the children.

Conclusion: Based on this development, there is a need to create more awareness on ADHD through health education, which will help to modify parents’ perception towards children with ADHD.

Frequency of Snack Consumption and its Association with Childhood Overweight and Obesity in Southern Ghana

Fri, 13 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Childhood overweight and obesity are increasing in Ghana, partly due to changing dietary habits. Urbanisation, socioeconomic changes, and exposure to globalised food markets in Ghana have been the main contributing factors that have led to this dietary shift from traditionally less frequent snacking habits to more frequent snacking habits. These dietary changes and reduced physical activity have contributed to rising rates of excess weight among school-aged children. Frequent snack consumption habits, which are also often characterised by foods high in sugar, salt, and unhealthy fats, have become common in schools, with children frequently purchasing snacks from school canteens, vendors, or nearby shops. It is therefore essential to know how the frequency of snacking relates to BMI-based weight status. This is important for the design of targeted interventions that address unhealthy eating behaviours early in children. This study, therefore, examined the association between snack consumption frequency and BMI-based weight status among school-aged children in Southern Ghana. A cross-sectional study was conducted among children aged 6–12 (n = 139) in government and private schools. Data on their snack consumption frequencies were collected using structured questionnaires. Anthropometric measurements were taken, and BMI-for-age z-scores were computed using WHO standards. Chi-square tests and logistic regression analyses assessed associations between snack frequency and overweight/obesity. Most of the children snacked once or twice a day. Many of the obese children, however, snacked thrice daily. A smaller proportion fell into the “other” category, comprising children who had irregular snack patterns. There was a near-significant association between the frequency of snack consumption and the obesity status of children (p < 0.054). The findings highlight the need for targeted interventions in nutrition education programs and school-based policies that discourage excessive snacking and promote healthier dietary practices. The findings revealed that while most children consumed snacks once or twice a day, those who reported snacking three times daily had a noticeably higher proportion of obesity compared to their non-obese counterparts. This snacking trend suggests that more frequent child snacks may contribute to an increased risk of childhood overweight and obesity.