Social inequalities and behavioural difficulties in childhood across cohort studies

• Grant number: 23/15198-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Doctorate (Direct)
• Start date: February 01, 2024
• End date: July 31, 2024
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Collective Health - Epidemiology
• Principal Investigator: Marly Augusto Cardoso
• Grantee: Isabel Giacomini Marques
• Supervisor: Silje Steinsbekk
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Saúde Pública (FSP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Norway
• Associated to the scholarship: 22/03400-9 - Head circumference trajectories in early childhood in Cruzeiro do Sul, Acre: associated factors and relationship with child development, BP.DD

Abstract

It is estimated that at least 43% of children under the age of 5 are at risk of not reaching their full potential development when exposed to growth deficits or to poverty. The numbers are even more alarming when considering low resource settings. As part of the doctoral research proposal entitled "Trajectories of the head circumference in early childhood in Cruzeiro do Sul, Acre: associated factors and relationship with child development", the present working plan aims to investigate and compare the impact of social inequalities on child emotional and behaviour difficulties over childhood across prospective cohort studies in different settings. After literature searching, the following cohorts will be invited for a pooling data analysis : (a) Ribeirão Preto - Brazil, 1994; (b) São Luís - Brazil, 1997-98; (c) Pelotas - Brazil, 2004; (d) Cruzeiro do Sul - Brazil, 2015; (e) Trondheim - Norway, 2003-4; (f) Yilo and Lower Manya Krobo - Ghana, 2009-10; (g) Amadora - Portugal, 2015. Behaviour problems were assessed with the parent version of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, a screening tool for emotional and behavioural problems. Trained research team collected all data in selected cohort studies, including socioeconomic information at baseline and follow-ups. The international internship will greatly support the training of the student for analysis with aggregated data with a focus on child development. By addressing the impact of poverty in all forms, the importance of achieving food security, improved nutrition, a healthy life and promoting well-being for all, this project is committed to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development signed by the United Nations in 2015. Thus, this study will contribute to the definition of priorities for international policies to promote adequate child nutrition and development, aiming at reducing inequalities globally.