Below are news briefs and news releases on statements appearing in the February issue of Pediatrics, the peer-reviewed, scientific journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).

For Release: February 5, 2007, 12:01 am (ET)

TV VIEWING AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITIY NOT RELATED

According to a new study, when adolescents’ sedentary behaviors – like watching TV – change, their physical activity does not. The study, "Longitudinal Relationship Between Television Viewing and Leisure-Time Physical Activity During Adolescence" indicates that watching TV and leisure-time physical activity are separate — and not opposite — activities. The findings suggest that clinical and public health programs should consider reducing television viewing and promoting physical activity as two separate areas of behavior modification when trying to reduce adolescents’ weight gain. The authors studied over 10,000 boys and girls 10- to 15-years old from 1997 to 2001.

YOUTH EXPOSURE TO ONLINE PORNOGRAPHY

Millions of children are exposed to online pornography, and the majority of that exposure is unwanted. In the 2005 study, “Unwanted and Wanted Exposure to Online Pornography in a National Sample of Youth Internet Users,” telephone surveys were given to 1,500 Internet users between 10 to 17 years of age. Results found that 42 percent of youth Internet users had been exposed to online pornography in the past year. Of those exposed youth, 66 percent reported only unwanted exposure found by misspelling a Web address or through pop-up advertisements or spam e-mails. Depression, curiosity, and delinquent tendencies fueled wanted exposure. Filtering and blocking software reduced the risk of unwanted exposure.

PEDIATRIC TELEPHONE CALL CENTERS

Evidence is accumulating that after-hours telephone care by trained, and pediatrician supervised, nurses at pediatric call centers is safe, satisfying to parents and patients, and results in appropriate care. It also appears to lead to a substantial savings within the health care system. The study, “Pediatric Telephone Call Centers: How Do They Affect Health Care Use and Costs?” asked an open-ended question before triage to callers at an after-hours call center. The question focused on what the caller would have done if they had not been able to contact the call center. Results indicate that of those who reported intent to go to the emergency room, more than two-thirds of those trips would have been unnecessary. In addition, 15 percent of calls from parents who intended to stay home were deemed urgent and required emergency room care. The authors conclude that after-hours call centers are important to providing appropriate, timely treatment while offering a cost-savings aspect to the public health care system.

PLACEMENT STABILITY IMPACT ON FOSTER CARE CHILDREN’S WELL BEING

A new study finds that placement stability – especially early on, regardless of a child’s problems at entry into foster care, can positively influence their well being. In the study, “The Impact of Placement Stability on Behavioral Well-being of Children in Foster Care,” those children who experienced multiple foster care moves, were estimated to have a 36 percent to 63 percent increased risk of behavioral problems compared to children who achieved some level in stability in foster care. The authors suggest that one of the best interventions for children in the foster care system is to concentrate on stabilizing them as quickly as possible and help them find healthy, secure attachments.

FINDINGS FROM THE NATIONAL SURVEY OF CHILDREN’S HEALTH

A supplement to the February issue of Pediatrics contains summaries, abstracts and discussions on recent studies highlighting the National Survey of Children’s Health. The survey, one of the largest ever conducted on the health of American children, provides estimates at the national and state level for a variety of physical, emotional, and behavioral child health indicators. Information in the supplement, “National and State-Specific Findings From the National Survey of Children’s Health” includes detailed research on topics such as the health and well being of adopted children, association between breastfeeding and young children’s language and motor skill development, and the prevalence of violent disagreements in U.S. families. The supplement is sponsored by the Health Resources and Services Administration’s Maternal and Child Health Bureau.

ANNUAL SUMMARY OF VITAL STATISTICS: 2005

The “Annual Summary of Vital Statistics – 2005,” the yearly report of births, fertility rates, and causes of death revealed some record highs and lows. The birth rates for women 30-years-old and older rose in 2005 to levels not seen in almost 40 years. Childbearing by unmarried women also increased to historic record levels for the United States. The cesarean-delivery rate continued to increase to 30 percent of all births, another record high. The birth rate for teen mothers (aged 15 to 19 years) fell to 40 births per 1000 women, the lowest ever recorded in the 65 years for which there are consistent data. Pronounced differences in infant mortality rates by race and Hispanic origin continue, with non-Hispanic black newborns more than twice as likely as non-Hispanic white and Hispanic infants to die within one year of birth. Suicide rates for children up to 19 years of age increased in 2004. A large proportion of childhood deaths continue to occur as a result of preventable injuries. Life expectancy overall reached a record high of 77.8 years.

The American Academy of Pediatrics is an organization of 60,000 primary care pediatricians, pediatric medical subspecialists and pediatric surgical specialists dedicated to the health, safety and well being of infants, children, adolescents and young adults.