A roundup of recent newspaper stories about children's health...
Monday, May 14:
UCSF Doctors: Wait for HPV Vaccine
Two UCSF doctors are warning against widespread use of the HPV vaccine, which protects against a virus that can cause cervical cancer. The doctors are calling the vaccine "experimental" and say that making it mandatory for preteen girls would be premature because it is still undergoing clinical trials. The vaccine has been FDA approved for use in preteens, and several states are considering making it mandatory. (SF Chronicle, 5/10/07, by Allday)
Parents of Down Syndrome Children React to Prenatal Testing
A recent recommendation from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists suggesting universal prenatal testing for Down Syndrome has concerned many parents of children with the disorder. They say that expectant parents first should understand the trials and joys of having a child with the condition, in order to make an informed decision about terminating the pregnancy. (NY Times, 5/9/07, by Harmon)
Study: More Toddlers Have Their Own TVs
A recent study by researchers at the University of Texas at Austin has found that 20 percent of children under age 3 have a television set in their bedroom, a fact that worries many child development experts. Although research on the effects of TV viewing on infants and toddlers is inconclusive, experts suggest that time in front of the television could be better spent interacting with their environment or playing. (Chicago Tribune, 5/7/07, by Manier)
TV Time Worsens School Performance in Adolescents
Adolescents who watch excessive amounts of TV are more likely to have attention and learning problems and poor school performance, according to a recent study by researchers at the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons. The authors suggest that parents can help their child avoid these difficulties by limiting TV watching to fewer than three hours per day. (Reuters, 5/8/07)
Abuse of Prescription Drugs Higher for Girls
Nearly one in 10 teenage girls has reported using a prescription drug to get high in the last year, compared to one in 13 teenage boys, according to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health . Researchers suggest that the girls' higher usage of prescription drugs, in comparison to illicit substances such as marijuana, may be the result of differing motivations for drug use between girls and boys. (AP, 5/9/07)
Experts: California's Youth Prisons Have Failed
In this first in a series on California's juvenile justice system, experts say that funding for the state's youth prisons is misspent on a system that cannot be reformed. Despite decreases in the prison population, a culture of violence persists in the youth system that inhibits any attempts made at rehabilitation. Advocates for youth prisoners say they should be moved to county facilities, which are more focused on comprehensive rehabilitation. (SF Chronicle, 5/7/07, by Sterngold)
Childhood Vaccine Initiative Aims to Reduce Racial Disparities
Contra Costa County has launched an initiative to reduce racial disparities in access to childhood vaccinations. More than a third of African-American toddlers do not get all of their recommended immunizations, compared to only 15 percent of Caucasians. Health officials attribute the racial disparity to differing access to health care, and are trying to fix the problem by offering more free clinics and outreach activities. (Contra Costa Times, 5/6/07, by Steffens)
Lawmakers May Revisit Universal Preschool
California lawmakers still are considering legislation that would expand access to preschool for low-income children, despite last year's failure of Proposition 82, a universal preschool initiative. Gov. Schwarzenegger has pledged a $50 million increase in funding for preschool programs, and several bills under consideration in the assembly have proposed expansion of preschool programs. (SJ Mercury, 5/7/07, by Kirp)
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