TEENS WHO TAKE VIRGINITY PLEDGES JUST AS LIKELY TO HAVE SEX, LESS LIKELY TO USE PROTECTION

Teens who take virginity pledges are not less sexually active than non-pledgers. However, they are less likely to protect themselves against disease and pregnancy during sex. In a new study, "Patient Teenagers? A Comparison of the Sexual Behavior of Virginity Pledgers and Matched Nonpledgers," researchers analyzed data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health on high school students who at the beginning of the study had never had sex or taken a virginity pledge. Students who reported a pledge in the second year of the study were matched with non-pledging students so pledgers and matched non-pledgers did not differ on over 100 pre-pledge characteristics. Five years after pledging, pledgers and matched nonpledgers did not differ in premarital sex, sexually transmitted disease, and anal and oral sex activity. Pledgers had 0.1 fewer past-year partners, but did not differ in the number of lifetime sexual partners and age of first sexual experience. Pledgers were ten percentage points less likely to report using condoms in the past year than matched non-pledgers, and also less likely to report use of any form of birth control. The study authors recommend that clinicians provide birth control information to all adolescents, especially virginity pledgers.

PARENTAL KNOWLEDGE OF THIRDHAND SMOKE DANGERS LINKED TO IN-HOME SMOKING BANS

A new study links in-home smoking bans with parental understanding of the negative effects of thirdhand smoke � the residual tobacco contamination that remains after a cigarette is extinguished. In �Beliefs About the Health Effects of Thirdhand Smoke and Home Smoking Bans,� researchers conducted phone surveys of more than 1,500 households to assess the level of agreement with the statements that breathing air in a room today where people smoked yesterday could harm the health of children. Overall, 95.4 percent of nonsmokers versus 84.1 percent of smokers agreed that secondhand smoke harms the health of children, and 65.2 percent of nonsmokers versus 43.3 percent of smokers, that thirdhand smoke harms children. Strict rules prohibiting smoking in the home were more prevalent among nonsmokers � 88.4 percent versus 26.7 percent. Belief that thirdhand smoke harms the health of children was independently associated with rules prohibiting smoking in the home. Health messages about thirdhand smoke contamination should be incorporated into tobacco control campaigns, programs, and routine clinical practice.

FAMILY REJECTION OF GAY TEENS LINKED TO LATER SUICIDE ATTEMPTS, DEPRESSION, DRUG USE AND RISKY SEXUAL BEHAVIOR

For the first time, a new study directly links family rejection with an increased risk of suicide, depression, drug use, and risky behavior in lesbian, gay and bisexual young adults. In �Family Rejection as a Predictor of Negative Health Outcomes in White and Latino Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Youth,� researchers surveyed 224 white and Latino young adults, ages 21 to 25, on nine negative health indicators including mental health, substance abuse and sexual risk. The results showed that young adults who were rejected by their families as teens were 8.4 times more likely to attempt suicide, 5.9 times more likely to report high levels of depression, 3.4 times more likely to use illegal drugs, and 3.4 times more likely to report having engaged in unprotected sexual intercourse compared to their peers who had experienced little or no family rejection. The study authors recommend counseling and early intervention to better educate families on the long-term impact of rejecting a child for sexual orientation or behavior.

CHILDREN WITH ASTHMA MORE LIKELY TO MISS SCHOOL IF PARENT HAS A CHRONIC DISEASE

Compared with other children with asthma, children whose parents have a chronic disease � especially children with more severe asthma -- were more likely to miss school. In the study, �School Absenteeism, Health Status, and Health Care Utilization Among Children With Asthma: Associations With Parental Chronic Disease,� researchers analyzed the 2003 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) records of children with asthma, ages 5 to 17. The children of a parent with a chronic disease missed an average of 1.3 additional school days each year. In addition, the parents had a more negative perception of their child�s health status. Understanding a child�s health in the context of their parent�s health could help providers to better work with parents to more effectively manage their child�s asthma, and to ensure that the child does not unnecessarily miss school or other activities because of their condition, according to the study authors.

A RETURN TO WORK AFTER BIRTH HINDERS BREASTFEEDING SUCCESS

A maternity leave of six weeks or less, or between six and 12 weeks, was associated with a fourfold and twofold higher risk, respectively, of non-established breastfeeding. In "Juggling Work and Breastfeeding: Effects of Maternity Leave and Occupational Characteristics," researchers examined breastfeeding duration in new mothers � age 18 or older, who gave birth to a single child (all in southern California) without abnormalities -- between July 2002 and December 2003. The study found that women with maternity leaves ending within six weeks of giving birth were three times more likely to stop breastfeeding, compared to women who did not return to work. Women working in inflexible or non-managerial jobs, and those with high psychosocial distress, were at greatest risk of breastfeeding cessation. Maternity leave after delivery but not prior to delivery influenced breastfeeding success. The AAP recommends that babies be breastfed during the first year of life, and for as long as is mutually desired. The study authors recommend that pediatricians encourage women to take maternity leave, and advocate for extended, paid postpartum leave; and more flexibility in working conditions for breastfeeding women.

TELEMEDICINE IMPROVES RURAL CARE, EVIDENCE COLLECTION IN SEXUAL ABUSE CASES

Telemedicine � the use of videoconferencing to link physicians and medical experts from one hospital to another � can significantly improve the examination procedure and treatment of child sexual abuse victims, and prevent further abuse, in rural areas. Each year, approximately 900,000 children are victims of child abuse and neglect, and 10 percent of these children are sexually assaulted. In rural areas, where children are often at greater risk of sexual abuse, many hospitals have neither the resources nor expertise to optimally examine and treat these children, putting them at risk of further abuse. In a new study, �Using Telemedicine to Improve the Care Delivered to Sexually Abused Children in Rural, Underserved Hospitals,� researchers linked child abuse experts from a university children�s hospital via teleconference to clinicians at two rural, underserved hospitals. Forty-two live telemedicine consultations were analyzed. In 86 percent of the cases, the consultations resulted in the use of multi-method examination techniques; and in 47 percent of the cases, changes in interview methods. Eighty-nine percent of the acute sexual assault consultations resulted in improved forensic evidence collection. The research supports the feasibility of telemedicine in the care of pediatric sexual abuse and assault cases, according to the study authors.

GASTRIC BY-PASS SURGERY CAN REVERSE TYPE 2 DIABETES IN EXTREMELY OBESE TEENS

Gastric by-pass weight loss surgery can successfully reverse type 2 diabetes in extremely obese adolescents and reduce cardiac and other risk factors, according to a new study. In �Reversal of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Improvements in Cardiovascular Risk Factors After Surgical Weight Loss in Adolescents,� researchers studied the effects of Roux-en Y gastric bypass surgery on 11 extremely obese adolescents (BMI = 50) with type 2 diabetes and numerous cardiovascular risk factors, compared to 67 overweight adolescents with type 2 diabetes receiving non-surgical treatment. In 10 of the 11 patients, the type 2 diabetes had gone into remission within one year of the surgery. The teens who did not receive surgery had stable body weight and no significant reduction in blood pressure or need for diabetic medication use. While the long-term effects and success of gastric bypass surgery are unknown, the study results suggest that surgery is an effective option for the treatment of extremely obese adolescents with type 2 diabetes.