Early childhood eye diseases and perinatal risk factors: potential of record linkage between current information flows.

Background: The aim of this study was to analyze the occurrence of specific maternal, obstetric or neonatal factors, by performing a comparison between children with refractive error, strabismus and/or amblyopia (cases) and unaffected children (controls) in the province of Trento (North-East Italy).

Methods: In 2012-2014, 14,346 children attending the second year of nursery school were assessed through the preschool orthoptic screening scheme (covering 91% of the preschool population). Record linkage was performed between the orthoptic screening database and birth records (birth confirmation certificate database) for the corresponding birth cohorts (2008-2010), to examine specific maternal factors (age, smoking, nationality/race), obstetric factors (type of delivery) and neonatal factors (gestational age, weight at birth, Apgar Score, congenital birth defects, hospitalization at birth).

Surveillance of childhood overweight: comparison of "OKkio alla SALUTE" survey and general paediatrics data in the Province of Trento.

Estimates of childhood overweight and obesity for the Province of Trento provided by the 2014 "OKkio alla SALUTE" survey (Italian national surveillance system for weight and nutrition in children) were compared with estimates provided by paediatric health forms. The Province of Trento is the only region that makes use of the information gathered through these forms, which are completed by primary care paediatricians as part of the 6-year health evaluation. OKkio alla SALUTE data for children, obtained from students enrolled in the third year of primary school in 2014 (845 children aged 8-9 years), were compared with data collected at the age of 6 for cohorts born in 2006, evaluated in 2012-2013 (3101 subjects).

Breastfeeding during the first year of life: estimates using records generated in general pediatrics.

Background: The monitoring of breastfeeding during a child's first year of life is highly recommended. The proportion of children who are exclusively breastfed for at least six months is a strong indicator of breastfeeding promotion in the community. The objectives of the study were to survey the exclusive breastfeeding of children during the first year of life for cohorts born in Trentino (north-eastern Italy) in 2009 to 20013, to evaluate the decrease of exclusive breastfeeding at 6 months and to analyze possible relationships between the maintenance of breastfeeding up to the age of 6 months and certain maternal socio-demographic characteristics, as well as clinical aspects of the pregnancy and birth.