A roundup of recent newspaper stories about children's health...
Monday, Oct. 16:
Survey: Many Children Don't Meet Fitness Guidelines
One-third of children ages 12-19 don't meet federal standards for physical fitness, according to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Researchers recorded more than 3,200 children's responses to questions about their diet and exercise habits, and measured their reactions to a workout on a treadmill. (NY Times, 10/10/06, by Nagourney)
Experts: Vaccine Laws May Be Responsible for Whooping Cough Outbreaks
Relaxed state laws on vaccination requirements may be partly to blame for outbreaks of whooping cough among children nationwide, experts say. Many states, including California, have laws that allow children to skip vaccinations before entering school based on medical concerns, or personal or religious beliefs. (AP, 10/11/06)
Column:
11 Is Not Too Young for the HPV Vaccination
In this
San Jose Mercury News column, Patty Fisher encourages parents to make
sure their preteen daughters receive the new vaccine for human papillomavirus
(HPV), which causes cervical cancer. Although doctors are recommending
the shot for children as young as 11, Fisher said parents should not be
deterred, noting that the vaccine is about cancer, not sex. (SJ Mercury,
10/9/06, by Fisher)
Study:
One in Five Californians Lacks Health Insurance
Nearly 6.5 million California residents don't have health insurance, according
to a study conducted by researchers at UCLA's Center for Health Policy
Research. The same study also revealed that 10.7 percent of children didn’t
have health insurance for all or part of last year, a significant improvement
from 2001 when the percentage was 14.8. Despite the progress, an estimated
half of uninsured children could qualify for public assistance, but parents/guardians
aren't applying for the help. (OC Register, 10/5/06)
Survey:
California Students Experimenting with Prescription Drugs
A state survey of 10,638 middle and high school students across California
found that 15 percent of 11th graders, 9 percent of 9th graders, and 4
percent of 7th graders consume pharmaceutical drugs without a prescription.
The study, conducted by the state Department of Alcohol and Drug Programs,
also showed that the use of inhalants, marijuana, and alcohol has significantly
declined over the last decade. (SD Union Tribune, 10/4/06, by Thompson)
Many
Young Children Not Getting Annual Flu Shot
Just one-third of children between the ages of six months and two years
get a flu vaccination, and some of the two-thirds who don't receive the
flu shot are at risk of serious illness or even death, because they have
asthma or other chronic diseases, according to a survey by the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention. A different survey of children the
same age, conducted by state health departments, found that 48 percent
of children receive flu shots. (SF Chronicle, 10/4/06, by Freking)
Study
Questions Breastfeeding's Link to Child Intelligence
Although research shows that breastfeeding has a beneficial effect on
a child's intelligence, once other factors are considered, such as maternal
intelligence, home environment, and socio-economic status, breastfeeding
makes up less than half a point difference in intelligence scores, according
to a study of 5,475 U.S. children and their mothers that was conducted
by Scottish researchers. (eMaxHealth.com, 10/06/06)
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