Low health-related quality of life in school-aged children in Tonga, a lower-middle income country in the South Pacific

Petersen, Solveig; Swinburn, Boyd; Mavoa, Helen; Fotu, Kalesita; Tupoulahi-Fusimalohi, Caroline; Faeamani, Gavin; Moodie, Marj

doi:10.3402/gha.v7.24896

Cited by 8 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 37 publications

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“…According to the parents’ reports, the overall QoL in Kenyan children and adolescents as found in this study is somewhat above (0.6 SD) that of large US standardization samples [ 30 ]. Averages of adolescent self-reports were well within the range of those from high-income countries (like the USA [ 31 ], see also Petersen et al [ 32 ]), most middle-income countries like Brazil, China, Iran, and Thailand [ 33 – 36 ], similar to those of adolescents from Nigeria [ 21 ], but higher than those from samples in other low-income countries like India [ 37 ] and Tonga [ 32 ]. However, adolescent girls’ self-reports showed lower averages on all QoL scales than boys.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 72%

Quality of life in children and adolescents in Central Kenya: associations with emotional and behavioral problems

Magai

Koot

2019

Qual Life Res

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Purpose To assess the quality of life (QoL) of children and adolescents in Kenya as rated by parents and youth themselves, and examine how QoL is related to emotional and behavioral problems (EBP). Method QoL and EBP reports were obtained from 1022 Kenyan parents and 533 adolescents living in the country’s Central Province. Parents with children between 6 and 18 years completed the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL) and the Child Behavior Checklist, while the adolescents (12–18) completed the PedsQL and the Youth Self-Report. Results Parent-reported QoL in Kenyan youth was somewhat above that of US standardization samples, while levels of adolescent self-reports were well within the range of those from most high- and middle-income countries. Average adolescent girls’ self-reports were lower on all QoL scales than boys. QoL in children/adolescents with clinical to borderline levels of EBP (cf. multicultural norms, Achenbach and Rescorla, 2007) was lower than QoL in agemates with normal levels of EBP. Regression analyses indicated unique associations of QoL with parent-reported withdrawn/depressed, somatic complaints, attention problems, and aggressive behavior, and with adolescent self-reported somatic complaints, attention problems, and rule-breaking behavior. Conclusion QoL levels were well within ranges of other countries. Moreover, associations of QoL with EBP indicated that those with borderline/clinical levels of EBP had a much lower QoL most notable for those with somatic complaints and attention problems. Mental health providers might focus on interventions that reduce EBP in Kenyan children and adolescents and simultaneously reduce the risk of lowered QoL.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 72%

Quality of life in children and adolescents in Central Kenya: associations with emotional and behavioral problems

Magai

Koot

2019

Qual Life Res

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“…The PedsQL has been tested in a range of countries, and consistently adolescents in LMICs report lower scores as compared to adolescents in HICs [ 21 ]. Whilst it is important to consider the impact of socio-economic status (and indeed the developmental status of a country) on this relationship, given that both are established indicators of dietary patterns [ 38 ] and mental health outcomes [ 39 ], it remains relevant to consider and compare studies conducted in HICs.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…It is important to further explore these associations in LMICs as the diets of adolescents in these nations are at different stages of dietary transition (moving from traditional to westernized diets) [ 20 ], meaning that results may differ to those seen in High Income Countries (HICs). In addition, studies assessing Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) indicate that adolescents in lower income countries may experience substantially lower HRQoL than their higher income country counterparts [ 21 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Cross-Sectional Association between Diet Quality and Depressive Symptomology amongst Fijian Adolescents

et al. 2016

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ObjectiveTo examine the relationship between diet quality and depressive symptomology amongst a community-based sample of Fijian adolescents.MethodsParticipants included 7,237 adolescents (52.6% girls; mean age 15.6 years) at baseline (2005) and 2,948 (56% girls; mean age 17.4 years) at follow-up (2007/2008), from the Pacific Obesity Prevention in Communities Project. Intervention schools (n = 7) were selected from Nasinu, near Suva on the main Fijian island Viti Levu, and comparison schools (n = 11) were chosen from towns on the opposite, west side of the island. A dietary questionnaire was used to measure diet quality. Factor analysis clustered dietary variables into two unique and independent factors, referred to as healthy diet quality and unhealthy diet quality. Depressive symptomology was assessed via the emotional subscale of the Paediatric Quality of Life Inventory. Both measures were self-reported and self-administered. Multiple linear regression was used to test cross-sectional associations (at baseline and follow-up) between diet quality and depressive symptomology. Variables controlled for included gender, age, ethnicity, study condition, BMI-z scores, and physical activity.FindingsStrong, positive dose-response associations between healthy diet and high emotional scores (lower depressive symptomology) were found in cross-sectional analyses at baseline and follow-up, among boys and girls. No association was found between emotional health and unhealthy diet.ConclusionsThis study suggests that cross-sectional relationships exist between a high quality diet during adolescence and less depressive symptoms, however more evidence is required to determine if these two variables are linked causally. Trial population health strategies that use dietary interventions as a mechanism for mental health promotion provide an opportunity to further test these associations. If this is indeed a true relationship, these forms of interventions have the potential to be inexpensive and have substantial reach, especially in Low and Middle Income Countries.Trial RegistrationAustralian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12608000345381

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“… 55 Two papers focused on Indigenous populations from two countries: NZ and Australia 64 and Tonga and NZ. 70 A range of Indigenous populations were included within these eight countries. Twelve papers had 100% Indigenous participants, ranging from 15 to 1396 people.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Health-related quality of life measures used with Indigenous children/youth in the Pacific Rim: a scoping review

et al. 2023

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ObjectiveTo identify and describe (1) which health-related quality of life (HRQoL) measures have been used with Indigenous children/youth (aged 8–17 years) within the Pacific Rim; and (2) studies that refer to Indigenous health concepts in the use of child/youth HRQoL measures.DesignA scoping review.Data sourcesOvid (Medline), PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science and CINAHL were searched up until 25 June 2020.Eligibility criteriaEligible papers were identified by two independent reviewers. Eligible papers were written in English, published between January 1990 and June 2020 and included an HRQoL measure used in research with Indigenous child/youth populations (aged between 8 and 17 years) in the Pacific Rim region.Data extraction and synthesisData extracted included study characteristics (year, country, Indigenous population, Indigenous sample size, age group), HRQoL measure characteristics (generic or condition-specific measure, child or adult measure, who completed the measure(s), dimensions, items and response scale of measure) and consideration of Indigenous concepts (created for Indigenous population, modified for Indigenous population, validated for Indigenous population, reliability in Indigenous populations, Indigenous involvement, reference to Indigenous theories/models/frameworks).ResultsAfter removing duplicates, 1393 paper titles and abstracts were screened, and 543 had full-text review for eligibility. Of these, 40 full-text papers were eligible, reporting on 32 unique studies. Twenty-nine HRQoL measures were used across eight countries. Thirty-three papers did not acknowledge Indigenous concepts of health, and only two measures were specifically created for use with Indigenous populations.ConclusionsThere is a paucity of research investigating HRQoL measures used with Indigenous children/youth and a lack of involvement of Indigenous peoples in the development and use of HRQoL measures. We strongly recommend explicit consideration of Indigenous concepts when developing, validating, assessing and using HRQoL measures with Indigenous populations.

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Low health-related quality of life in school-aged children in Tonga, a lower-middle income country in the South Pacific

Cited by 8 publications

References 37 publications

Quality of life in children and adolescents in Central Kenya: associations with emotional and behavioral problems

Quality of life in children and adolescents in Central Kenya: associations with emotional and behavioral problems

The Cross-Sectional Association between Diet Quality and Depressive Symptomology amongst Fijian Adolescents

Health-related quality of life measures used with Indigenous children/youth in the Pacific Rim: a scoping review

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