Publication details
Některé aspekty rodinného prostředí českých dětí. Výsledky studie ELSPAC
| Title in English | Certain Aspects of Family Environment of Czech Children |
|---|---|
| Authors | |
| Year of publication | 2006 |
| Type | Article in Periodical |
| Magazine / Source | Česko-Slovenská Pediatrie |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
| Citation | |
| Field | Paediatry |
| Keywords | exposure to ETS; alcohol; physical skills; children; ELSPAC |
| Description | The most natural way of adopting healthy life style is to absorb it within family. This partial work contains characteristics of selected aspects of family environment with special focus on smoking influencing children within the period between 18 months and 5 years of age, obtained from ELSPAC study. The goal is to draw the paediatricians attention to a significant number of children exposed to passive smoking in pre-school age and to invite them to actively approach child protection against the consequences of risk behavior of their parents. The data about children from the study cohort of ELSPAC study were obtained from mothers and paediatricians in charge: there were 3400 three-year- and 4983 five-year-old children. The data were compared for children of non-smoking mothers and of those with smoking history. Results were statistically processed by SPSS programme. The most significant for pre-school age children protection from passive smoking exposure in the family proves to be non-smoking behavior of the mother: if she doesn t smoke, only cca 15 to 20 % of children live in smoke environment compared to cca 50 to 75 % of exposed children of smoking mothers. Attendance at some preschool facility significantly decreases strong (lasting for several hours or all day) exposure of children to passive smoking. On the contrary, weekends present risk for children in the sense of increased exposure – especially of that strong, lasting all day. Significantly higher necessity of curative medical care makes worse health status of children who are exposed the most to passive smoking evident. Almost one fifth of three-year-old and nearly one fourth of five-year-old children have tasted alcohol. On the contrary, many five-year-old children significantly fall behind in movement skills associated with sports and games: only approximatelly two thirds of children can ride a bicycle, can throw a small ball, can play some board game. Approximatelly one fourth of children can handle a ball in more skilled way when playing „kindergarten“, throwing it against a wall. Only 4,3 % of children can swimm well. Pre-school age children population is not protected from polluted air by the legislature enforced to protect adult non-smokers. Prevention of child home contact with alcohol offered by parents „to taste“ is impossible. Conclusion: pre-school age children in Czech family conditions are exposed to the effects of legal drugs. An important role of paediatricians is to observe exposition to passive smoking, reveal its risks, warn against „tasting“ alcohol and support the development of movement skills of children by focused questions and recommendations, initiate accepting of already existing primary preventive programmes by professional paedagogists in preschool and school facilities. |
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