Association of Socioeconomic Factors and Infant Nutrition Decisions: Breastfeeding and Type of Formula.

Breastfeeding is considered the gold standard of infant feeding during the first year of life. However, many women experience difficulty breastfeeding and do not breastfeed to the extent that they initially planned. Our aims were to present factors influencing parents' choices of infant nutrition and to examine whether these choices are influenced by socioeconomic status (SES).

Different Reasons for Not Completing Routine Vaccinations Among Jewish and Arab Children in Israel.

Minority communities are at high risk for low childhood vaccination coverage rates. This paper compared the rate of children not fully vaccinated and the reasons for that between Jewish (majority) and Arab (minority) children in Israel. This cross-sectional study screened the medical files of 14,232 children (12,360 Jewish and 1872 Arab), registered at Mother-Child Health Clinics in two large geographical area, to identify children who did not complete the last dose of hepatitis B and DTaP or first dose of MMR vaccines.

Nutrition and the Use of Supplements in Women During Pregnancy: A Cross-Sectional Survey.

Objective: A healthy diet during pregnancy is essential to ensure optimal fetal growth and development. Women's awareness of dietary guidelines may assist them in following a healthy diet for themselves and their unborn babies. The Institute of Medicine and the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology have published recommendations concerning the nutrition of pregnant/nursing women.

A path analysis model suggesting the association between health locus of control and compliance with childhood vaccinations.

Despite vaccines benefits, parent's vaccine hesitancy is growing. Health locus of control (HLOC) may affect decision making regarding child vaccinations. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between parents' HLOC and compliance with routine childhood immunization programs.

Growth, developmental achievements and vaccines timeliness of undocumented migrant children from Eritrea compared with Israelis.

Introduction: Israel has absorbed >40,000 Eritrean undocumented migrants since 2007, while the majority live in the southern neighborhoods of Tel-Aviv. As non-citizens and citizens infants in Israel receive free preventive treatment at the mother and child health clinics (MCHC), this study aimed to compare development and growth achievements between children of Eritrean mothers (CE) to children of Israeli mothers (CI), and assess their compliance to routine follow-up and vaccination-timeliness.

Methods: This cohort study included all Israeli-born CE between 2009 and 2011, compared with a random sample of CI and treated at the same MCHC and followed-up to the age of 30-months.

[SOCIAL-ECONOMIC-DEMOGRAPHIC DIFFERENCES IN REASONS NOT TO COMPLY IN TIME WITH ROUTINE CHILDHOOD VACCINATIONS].

Background: In recent years, there has been an increase in parents who do not comply with recommended routine vaccines. The vaccination coverage rates in Israel are known, but the reasons for not completing immunizations are unknown. The aim of this study was to assess the extent of failure to complete the routine vaccinations in time and the reasons among different population groups.

Sensory profile in infants and toddlers with behavioral insomnia and/or feeding disorders.

Background: Sleep and feeding difficulties are two common disorders in early childhood. It has been shown that feeding difficulties are more common among children with sleep disorders and vice versa. Since a child's characteristics play a substantial role in these two conditions, we aimed to investigate the sensory profile of infants and toddlers with behavioral insomnia (BI) or feeding disorders (FDs) in comparison with healthy age-matched controls.

Parents with high levels of communicative and critical health literacy are less likely to vaccinate their children.

Objective: To investigate the relationship between parents' health literacy and decision-making regarding child vaccinations.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 731 parents of children aged 3-4 years. Functional, communicative, and critical health literacy (HL), knowledge, beliefs, reliability of the vaccine's information resources, and vaccine's attitudes were measured.

Maternal cognitions and depression in childhood behavioral insomnia and feeding disturbances.

Objectives: To investigate (1) maternal cognitions regarding infant's sleep and feeding and maternal depression among mothers of children with behavioral insomnia, feeding disturbances and healthy controls, and (2) the association between maternal cognitions about sleep and those about feeding.

Methods: Children 6-36 months of age with either behavioral insomnia or feeding disorders were recruited. Children 6-36 months of age who attended the well-baby clinics were recruited and served as controls.

Risk factors of underutilization of childhood immunizations in ultraorthodox Jewish communities in Israel despite high access to health care services.

Background: The risk factors of underutilization of childhood vaccines in populations with high access to health services are not fully understood.

Objectives: To determine vaccination coverage and factors associated with underutilization of childhood vaccines in a population with sub-optimal vaccination compliance, despite a high health care access.

Methods: The study was conducted among 430 children from ultraorthodox Jewish communities in the Bnei Brak city and Jerusalem district.

Coexistence of sleep and feeding disturbances in young children.

Objective: Behavioral insomnia and feeding difficulties are 2 prevalent conditions in healthy young children. Despite similarities in nature, etiology, prevalence, and age distribution, the association between these 2 common disorders in young children has not been examined thus far.

Patients And Methods: Children aged 6 to 36 months with either behavioral insomnia or feeding disorders were recruited.

Sleep position in Israeli Jewish infants following the "back to sleep" campaign.

Background: Prone sleeping has been recognized as a risk factor for sudden infant death syndrome. Ten years ago, non-prone sleeping was recommended in many countries around the world including Israel. The rate of infants sleeping prone and the rate of parents' adherence with the recommendations have not been studied.

Effect of religious observance on infants' sleep position in the Jewish population.

Objectives: To describe the effect of the level of religiousness on infants' sleep position in the Jewish population.

Methods: A longitudinal telephone survey of randomly selected 608 2-month-old Jewish infants repeated at 4 and 6 months. Results were analyzed versus the four levels of Jewish religion observance.

Melatonin production in infants.

This study investigated the relationships of the excretion of the melatonin metabolite, 6-sulfatoxymelatonin, to prenatal, natal, and postnatal variables and its possible relation to psychomotor development. nocturnal urinary excretion of 6-sulfatoxymelatonin was studied over a 13-hour period in 355 term infants at 8 weeks of age (n = 320) and 16 weeks of age (n = 96). data on a variety of perinatal factors including pregnancy course, delivery, early postnatal course, birth weight, medical problems, growth (length, weight, and head circumference), and psychomotor development were collected at 1, 3, 6, 9, 12, and 18 months.

Lack of association between varicocele and angiokeratoma of the scrotum (Fordyce).

Angiokeratoma of the scrotum is thought to be associated with varicocele. Our study population consisted of young soldiers and adult reservists. The young population was screened during routine medical examination for the existence of varicocele or angiomas on the scrotum, while the adult reservists, who according to their medical records had varicocele, were randomly questioned for the existence of any kind of spots or lesions on their scrota.

Low back pain and body mass index.

We have examined the association between body mass index and the prevalence of low back pain in about a quarter of a million male recruits aged 17-18 years at the time of their medical draft examination. Low back pain prevalence is shown to rise with increasing body mass index. This statistically significant association may suggest a role of body weight and height in the pathogenesis of low back pain and supports the previously reported need for education regarding weight reduction as a useful implement in low back pain prevention.

Combatting traffic accidents in the Israel Defence Forces: the role of the Medical Corps.

A combined plan of action of the Medical Corps in the battle against traffic accidents is described. The plan covers sound medical standards for military driver licensing, disqualification of drivers with medical problems, reporting of problematic drivers (epileptics and others) to the Israeli Ministry of Health, evaluating the driving fitness of drivers involved in traffic accidents, and finally, an education program for all Israel Defence Forces soldiers to be delivered by military physicians. Several medical aspects of traffic safety are highlighted.

Medical limitations of gas masks for civilian populations: the 1991 experience.

Using a gas mask (GM) may involve considerable inconvenience, impairment of respiration and communication, and serious psychological reactions. The medical literature is primarily focused on the occupational aspects of using the GM by young and healthy workers. In contrast, there is hardly any information concerning the use of GMs by large, unselected populations, including children, the elderly, and the sick.

Seasonal variation in paired maternal-newborn serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D and 24,25-dihydroxyvitamin D concentrations in Israel.

Seasonal changes were observed in the vitamin D status of mothers and their newly born infants in sunny Israel. Maternal and newborn serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OHD) were lower (less than 0.01) in March-April (n = 45 pairs), than in September-October (n = 33 pairs).