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ObjectivesThis study aimed to evaluate the association of neck circumference (NC) with obesity to determine the sex-specific and age-specific optimal cut-off points of this measure in association with obesity in a national sample of the Iranian paediatric population.MethodsThis survey on weight disorders was conducted among a national sample of Iranian children and adolescents, aged 6–18 years. Using the area under the curve (AUC) of the receiver operator characteristic curves, we evaluated the association of NC with general and abdominal obesity.ResultsThis national survey was conducted among 23 043 school students (50.8% boys) with a mean age (SD) of 12.55 (3.31) years. A significant association was documented between NC and other anthropometric measures in both sexes and in the whole population. In all age groups and genders, NC performed relatively well in classifying participants to overweight (AUC: 0.67 to 0.75, p<0.001), general obesity (AUC: 0.81 to 0.85, p<0.001) and abdominal obesity (AUC: 0.73 to 0.78, p<0.001).ConclusionsNC can be considered as a simple time-saving clinical tool for obesity detection in large population-based studies in children and adolescents. It is significantly correlated with indices of adiposity and can reliably identify children with general and abdominal obesity in the Iranian paediatric population.

Language proficiency is one prominent factor that could affect the use of language learning strategies (LLSs) in learning English as a second language among the learners. The influence of language proficiency on the use of LLSs might differ as language learning has extended to the contexts of learning other than the learners' differences. With that in view, this study seeks to examine various types of LLSs based on the language proficiency of 1699 learners in a Malaysia tertiary context. This study utilised the adapted version of Strategy Inventory for Language Learning (SILL, 1990) Findings revealed that high proficiency learners employed LLSs from high to medium level whereas average and low learners showed medium strategy use of all LLSs. One-way ANOVA tests further indicated that there were significant differences in the use of direct strategies based on their language proficiency. It was also found that language proficiency had a significant influence on the use of cognitive, compensation, social, metacognitive and affective strategies. Positive to mix variation of the high strategy use for individual items of SILL with significant differences were reported. Implications of this study were also discussed.

BackgroundThe present study set to describe the socioeconomic inequality associated with oral hygiene behavior among Iranian pediatric population.MethodsA representative sample of 13486 school students aged 6–18 years was selected through multistage random cluster sampling method from urban and rural areas of 30 provinces in Iran. Principle Component Analyses (PCA) correlated variables summarized as socioeconomic status (SES). Association of independent variables with tooth brushing was assessed through logistic regression analysis. Decomposition of the gap in tooth brushing between the first and fifth SES quintiles was assessed using the counterfactual decomposition technique. To assess the relation between tooth brushing and each socioeconomic category, Concentration Index (C) and the slope index of inequality (SII) were used, representing the linear regression coefficient.ResultsThe participation rate was 90.6 % (50.7 % boys and 75.6 % urban inhabitants). The mean age of participants was 12.47 ± 3.36 years. The frequency of tooth brushing increased across SES quintiles, prevalence of tooth brushing between the first and fifth quintile, under 20 % difference, increased from 58.22 (95 % CI: 56.24,60.20) to 78.61 (95 % CI: 77.00,80.24). Only 3 % of the difference is explained by the factors considered in the study, and 17 % remained unknown. Residence area, family size, and smoking status made a significant contribution to the gap between the first and last SE groups. Residence area [ −2.01 (95 % CI: −3.46, −0.55)] was along the maximum levels of gaps between SE categories.ConclusionsThe findings revealed a socio-economic inequality in oral health behavior in Iranian children and adolescents. Also, factors influencing oral health are addressed to develop and implement complementary public health actions.

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