A roundup of recent newspaper stories about children's health...
Monday, Sept. 3, 2007:
Report: Americans Get Fatter Again.
Obesity rates climbed in 31 states in 2006, and no state showed a decline, according to a report from research group Trust for America 's Health. The report also included obesity rates among children ages 10 to 17. In 2006, 13 percent of California children were overweight, according to the report, compared to Utah , which had the lowest rate of child obesity at 9 percent. (AP, 8/24/07 )
Editorial: Restrictions on SCHIP Too Strict.
This New York Times editorial calls the Bush administration's recently announced restrictions on the State Children's Health Insurance Program “unattainable” and “wrong-headed.” The new requirements call for states to enroll 95 percent of children with household incomes at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty level before being permitted to extend coverage to families who earn at least 250 percent of the poverty level. (NY Times, 8/26/07 )
Center Works with Child Stroke Patients.
Pediatric strokes are not as rare as some physicians might think, research suggests, but strokes in children often go misdiagnosed because they are more common in older adults. This San Francisco Chronicle article highlights the work of the pediatric stroke and cerebrovascular disease center at UCSF. (SF Chronicle, 8/27/07 , by Allday)
More Women Dying During Childbirth.
Women in the U.S. are dying during childbirth at the highest rate since the late 1970s, according to the National Center for Health Statistics. Experts blame a rise in cesarean births and maternal obesity for the increase, but say death during childbirth is still rare in the U.S. In 2004, the most recent year for which data are available, there were 13 maternal deaths for every 100,000 live births. ( Washington Post, 8/24/07 , by Stobbe)
NICUs Provide Early Expert Care for Preemies.
This Denver Post article about Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICU) notes recent advances in care for premature babies. The number of babies who are born early and survive continues to rise and new technology allows doctors to more accurately predict a long-term prognosis. ( Denver Post, 8/27/07 , by Augé)
Parents: Talk to Young Preteens About Drugs.
As the new school year starts, experts are encouraging parents to talk to their children about drugs before they reach middle school. An expert from the Menninger Clinic Adolescent Treatment Program notes that some preteens start experimenting with drugs and alcohol as early as age 11. (Reuters, 8/24/07 , by Rauscher)
Record Number of Americans Have No Insurance.
More Americans than ever before – including millions of children – went without health insurance at some point in 2006, according to a report released this week by the U.S. Census Bureau. Some lawmakers say the report underscores the importance of renewing the State Children's Health Insurance Program, an issue currently being debated by federal lawmakers. (SF Chronicle, 8/29/07 , by Chroneau and Heredia)
Keeping Kids Healthy After School.
Faced with growing childhood obesity rates, the Institute of Medicine recently suggested nutritional guidelines for school snacks. This San Francisco Chronicle articles offers tips from nutrition experts on how to extend those guidelines to afterschool snacks at home. (SF Chronicle, 8/29/07 , by Finz)
Study: Moms with Diabetes More Likely to Have Overweight Kids. Mothers who have gestational diabetes are nearly 90 percent more likely than other women to have an overweight child, and 82 percent more likely to have an obese child, according to a study by researchers at Kaiser Permanente's Center for Health Research. The study also found that mother's at the high end of what is considered “normal” blood sugar were 28 percent more likely to have obese children than moms with lower blood sugar levels. (Time, 8/28/07 , by Song)
Lawmakers Agree: More Mental Health Help Needed for Kids.
In response to a recent article about post-traumatic stress disorder among urban youth, local and state lawmakers agreed that something must be done, according to this San Francisco Chronicle story. One suggestion was to create better partnerships between schools and mental health departments, and teachers said more mental health counselors in schools is a desperate need. Our foundation released a study in 2006 that documented the need for counselors in San Mateo County schools. (SF Chronicle, 8/28/07 , by Tucker)
Common Anxiety Disorder Keeps Kids from Speaking.
Selective mutism, a condition in which children are unable to speak, is a very common social anxiety disorder that may be genetic, researchers say. Children who suffer from the disorder usually develop it by age 5, and some experts say selective mutism is twice as common as autism. This article notes that Seung-Hui Cho, who went on a shooting rampage at Virginia Tech, was diagnosed with selective mutism as a child. However, most people with the condition are not violent. (ABC News, 8/29/07 , by James)
Study: Average Drinking Age Dropping.
According to a recent national study conducted by researchers at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, 7 percent of fourth graders said they have had an alcoholic drink in the past year. This San Jose Mercury News article notes that the study is one of many that have documented a decrease in drinking age in recent years. (SJ Mercury, 8/31/07 , by Ostrov)
Breastfeeding Campaign Questions Administration's Focus on Public Health. A few years ago, the Health and Human Services Department toned down an advertising campaign designed to encourage new mothers to breastfeed, at the request of the infant formula industry. Now, Congress is scrutinizing the industry's role in the campaign, and lawmakers say they are concerned that the Bush administration has put its political considerations above public health. ( Washington Post, 8/31/07 , by Kaufman and Lee)
Kids Get Computer Eye Strain, Too.
Computer-related eye strain is not just an adult problem, according to the American Optometric Association. Experts say children can experience many of the same symptoms as adults after spending too much time in front of the computer. The association recommends that children take regular breaks from computers and not use workstations set up for adults. (HealthDay, 8/31/07 )
Study: Single Dads Less Likely to Provide Child Health Insurance. Single mothers fare better than single fathers when it comes to their child's health, according to a study conducted by researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health. The national study found that single fathers were less likely to provide health insurance and preventive care for their children than single moms. ( Baltimore Sun, 8/30/07 , by Dance)
Study: School-Based Mentoring Programs Need Help.
A recent study commissioned by Big Brothers Big Sisters of America found that while school-based mentoring has a positive impact on youth, including improved academic performance and quality of work, its benefits are few and short-lived. The study's recommendations include strengthening programs through more screening, training and supervision of volunteer mentors which in turn, may mean reaching fewer youth. (Youth Today, 8/29/07 , by Boyle and Moore)
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