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Child Adolesc Psychiatry Ment Health 2021 Apr 30;15(1):22. Epub 2021 Apr 30.

Department of Psychology, Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, Germany.

Background: Child maltreatment poses high risks to the mental health and cognitive functioning of children not only in childhood but also in later life. However, it remains unclear whether child maltreatment is directly associated with impaired cognitive functioning or whether this link is mediated by mental health problems. Our study aimed at examining this research question among children and adolescents in Uganda. Read More

J Obstet Gynaecol Can 2021 Apr 28. Epub 2021 Apr 28.

Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.

Objective: Missed screening opportunities may contribute to the rising rates of sexually transmitted and blood borne infections (STBBIs) in Manitoba. This study sought to determine the proportion of women who are screened for syphilis and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) when admitted with pelvic inflammatory disease (PID).

Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of all inpatient admissions for PID over 3 discrete years (fiscal years 2007, 2012, 2017) at a single tertiary care centre. Read More

Child Abuse Negl 2021 Apr 21:105073. Epub 2021 Apr 21.

Department of Pediatrics, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street. W., Hamilton, ON, L8S 4L8, Canada.

BMC Oral Health 2021 04 19;21(1):196. Epub 2021 Apr 19.

International Research Center of Excellence, Institute of Human Virology Nigeria, Abuja, Nigeria.

Introduction: Sexual and oral health are important areas of focus for adolescent wellbeing. We assessed for the prevalence of sexual abuse among adolescents, oral health factors associated with this history, and investigated whether sexual abuse was a risk indicator for dental anxiety, caries experience and poor oral hygiene.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted between December 2018 and January 2019 among adolescents 10-19 years old in Ile-Ife, Nigeria. Read More

Pediatrics 2021 May 5;147(5). Epub 2021 Apr 5.

School of Public Health, The University of Queensland, Herston, Queensland, Australia.

Objectives: To examine the association between child maltreatment (abuse and neglect) in one sibling and that in another as well as associated risk factors.

Methods: The participants were 520 sibling pairs enrolled in a population-based birth cohort study in Brisbane, Australia ( = 1040). Exposure to suspected child maltreatment was measured by linkage with state child protection agency data. Read More

BMJ Case Rep 2021 Mar 29;14(3). Epub 2021 Mar 29.

Ophthalmology, Birmingham Children's Hospital, Birmingham, West Midlands, UK.

is a Gram-negative bacterium that causes urogenital tract infections, and ocular infections including trachoma, neonatal conjunctivitis and adult chlamydial inclusion conjunctivitis. A positive diagnosis in children often raises suspicions of sexual abuse. While outer membrane protein A () genotypes A-C are non-invasive and are associated with trachoma; genotypes D-K are often associated with sexually transmitted urogenital infections or sexually acquired chlamydial conjunctivitis. Read More

Child Youth Serv Rev 2021 Mar 5;122. Epub 2021 Jan 5.

Center for Child Health, Behavior, and Development, Seattle Children's Research Institute M/S CW8-5, PO BOX 5371, Seattle, WA 98145-5005, United States.

Introduction: Little is known about the patterns of adolescent and young adult digital dating abuse (DDA) nationwide. This study characterizes (1) the lifetime prevalence, (2) the age of initiation, and (3) the patterns of co-occurrence of both using and experiencing DDA behaviors in dating relationships.

Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted among a sample of 696 U. Read More

Child Abuse Negl 2021 May 8;115:105008. Epub 2021 Mar 8.

University of California, Division of Adolescent and Young Adult Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, San Francisco, CA, USA. Electronic address:

Background: Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) may have lasting impacts on cognition.

Objective: To determine if ACE exposure is prospectively associated with cognition in young adults. We hypothesized that deprivation- and threat-type ACEs as well as higher cumulative ACE exposure predict poorer cognition. Read More

Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2020 18;11:549928. Epub 2021 Feb 18.

Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States.

Aim: To examine individual variability between perceived physical features and hormones of pubertal maturation in 9-10-year-old children as a function of sociodemographic characteristics.

Methods: Cross-sectional metrics of puberty were utilized from the baseline assessment of the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study-a multi-site sample of 9-10 year-olds (n = 11,875)-and included perceived physical features the pubertal development scale (PDS) and child salivary hormone levels (dehydroepiandrosterone and testosterone in all, and estradiol in females). Multi-level models examined the relationships among sociodemographic measures, physical features, and hormone levels. Read More

Pediatr Clin North Am 2021 Apr 26;68(2):427-436. Epub 2021 Jan 26.

Department of Pediatrics, Bellevue Hospital Center, 462 First Avenue, New York, NY 10016, USA.

Sexual violence against children is a gross violation of children's rights during their formative years and will likely interfere with their developmental trajectory and long-term quality of life. As a result, this form of violence includes commercial sexual exploitation of children, sexual abuse, child marriages, and female genital mutilation. The evidence shows that violence prevention is worth the investment; however, prioritizing this agenda to ensure funding through government spending remains low. Read More

J Child Sex Abus 2021 Feb 23:1-19. Epub 2021 Feb 23.

University of Malaya Kuala Lumpur Malaysia.

Worldwide studies have reported a drastic increase in child sexual abuse (CSA) involving very young children. In Malaysia, several attempts have been made to combat this problem via educational programs. Teachers have reported a lack of confidence in teaching this topic; hence a less threatening approach is needed. Read More

Psychol Health Med 2021 Feb 11:1-13. Epub 2021 Feb 11.

The Havens. King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.

Adults and young people with somatoform disorders and somatic symptoms retrospectively report high rates of sexual abuse. We aimed to assess somatic symptoms in young people in the aftermath of a sexual assault and to document links with assault characteristics, with psychopathology and with related functional impairment. This was a prospective cohort study of adolescents seen in specialized clinics in London in the first 6 weeks following a sexual assault and at 4-5 months follow-up. Read More

Acad Pediatr 2021 Feb 4. Epub 2021 Feb 4.

Department of Pediatrics, Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics & Psychology, Rainbow Babies & Children's Hospital, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine (AC Huth-Bocks), Cleveland, Ohio.

Background: A mother's psychological well-being impacts her own and her infant's health. Challenges to maternal psychological well-being (eg, depression, anxiety) are associated with increased infant emergency department (ED) utilization. It is not known if other maternal psychological factors, such as relational health and past maltreatment during one's own childhood, are also associated with child ED utilization. Read More

Child Abuse Negl 2021 Jan 20:104920. Epub 2021 Jan 20.

Academic Model Providing Access to Healthcare (AMPATH), Eldoret, Kenya; Division of Epidemiology, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada; Department of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, School of Medicine, Eldoret, Kenya. Electronic address:

Background: The effect of different types of care environment on orphaned and separated children and adolescents' (OSCA) experiences of abuse in sub-Saharan Africa is uncertain.

Objective: Our two primary objectives were 1) to compare recent child abuse (physical, emotional, and sexual) between OSCA living in institutional environments and those in family-based care; and 2) to understand how recent child abuse among street-connected children and youth compared to these other vulnerable youth populations.

Participants And Setting: This project followed a cohort of OSCA in Uasin Gishu County, Kenya (2009-2019). Read More

Child Abuse Negl 2021 Feb 9;112:104896. Epub 2021 Jan 9.

Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, United States; Division of Emergency Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, United States. Electronic address:

Background: The trafficking of children and adolescents is widespread, and pediatric providers are on the front line. Current research demonstrates that trafficked children do access health care. However, few studies describe these interactions from their perspectives. Read More

J Affect Disord 2021 03 24;282:261-271. Epub 2020 Dec 24.

Department of Psychiatry, Western Psychiatric Hospital, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Bellefield Towers, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, United States.

Background: Pediatric bipolar disorders are often characterized by disruptions in cognitive functioning, and exposure to child maltreatment (e.g., physical and sexual abuse) is associated with a significantly poorer course of illness. Read More

Child Abuse Negl 2021 Feb 4;112:104903. Epub 2021 Jan 4.

Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University, West 5th Campus, Administration, B3, 100 West 5th, Hamilton, ON L8N 3K7 Canada. Electronic address:

Background: Despite a range of interventions available to treat mental health symptoms experienced by youth with a history of child sexual abuse (CSA), limited empirical work has examined practitioner delivery of these interventions in real-world practice.

Objective: This paper aimed to qualitatively explore the delivery of trauma-based interventions in community settings in Ontario, Canada.

Participants And Settings: Using qualitative description, a purposeful sample of service providers (N = 51; 92 % female) were recruited from nine community-based organizations located in Southern Ontario, Canada providing psychotherapeutic trauma-based interventions to youth with a history of child sexual abuse. Read More

J Paediatr Child Health 2020 12;56(12):1995-1996

Center for Postgraduate Education and Training, National Center for Child Health and Development, Tokyo, Japan.

Child Abuse Negl 2021 Jan 15;111:104828. Epub 2020 Dec 15.

UH Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital, Cleveland, OH, USA; UH Rainbow Center for Child Health and Policy, Cleveland, OH, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA. Electronic address:

Background: The Children's Advocacy Center (CAC) model is the predominant multidisciplinary model that responds to child sexual abuse (CSA) in the United States (US). While the CAC model has made important contributions in case coordination and referrals for specialty services, little is known about child- or family-oriented outcomes.

Objective: Explore the trends and gaps involving outcome and output measures affiliated with CACs in the US. Read More

PLoS One 2020 10;15(12):e0243656. Epub 2020 Dec 10.

Department of Paediatrics, Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Lagos, Nigeria.

Introduction: The study was carried out to determine the prevalence of and risk factors for hepatitis B and C viral co-infections in HIV infected children in Lagos.

Method: A cross-sectional study conducted to determine the prevalence and risk factors for hepatitis B and C viral co-infection in children aged 2 months to 13 years. There were 187 HIV infected and 187 HIV naïve age, sex-matched controls. Read More

J Affect Disord 2021 02 10;280(Pt A):167-172. Epub 2020 Nov 10.

School of Medicine, University of Queensland, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Woolloongabba 4102, Queensland, Australia; Queensland Alcohol and Drug Research and Education Centre, The University of Queensland, Herston 4006, Queensland, Australia.

Background: Retrospective studies show a strong association between child abuse and subsequent psychiatric morbidity. Prospective studies are less common with conflicting data in young adults. We assessed the effect on psychological outcomes at 30-year follow-up of prospective agency notifications compared to retrospective self-reports of childhood maltreatment in the same birth cohort. Read More

Matern Child Health J 2021 Apr 18;25(4):635-644. Epub 2020 Nov 18.

Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.

Objectives: Most studies examining psychosocial factors contributing to preterm birth (PTB) have focused on negative life events. Studies examining the influence of negative emotion, in particular maternal anger, remain sparse. We examined associations of maternal trait anger expression and lifetime traumatic and non-traumatic experiences with the risk of PTB. Read More

Drug Alcohol Rev 2021 May 1;40(4):673-680. Epub 2020 Nov 1.

School of Public Health, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.

Introduction And Aims: Retrospective studies have shown a strong association between experiencing maltreatment in childhood and subsequent illicit substance or alcohol use. Prospective studies are rarer, with limited data following subjects into adulthood. We report findings from a prospective record-linkage analysis, which examines whether notified and/or substantiated child maltreatment is associated with substance (SUD) or alcohol use disorders (AUD) in early adulthood when participants are 30 years old. Read More

R I Med J (2013) 2020 11 2;103(9):47-51. Epub 2020 Nov 2.

board-certified child abuse pediatrician at the Lawrence A. Aubin Child Protection Center at Brown University. He has worked in the field of child abuse pediatrics for 10 years and completed hundreds of medical evaluations for child sexual abuse. He is also the fellowship director of child abuse pediatrics at Brown University.

Soc Sci Med 2020 12 17;266:113461. Epub 2020 Oct 17.

Departments of Psychiatry and Pediatrics, University of California San Francisco, USA.

Maternal psychosocial stress increases the risk of adverse birth and postnatal outcomes for the mother and child, but the role of maternal exposure to childhood traumatic events (CTE) and multi-domain psychosocial stressors for the level and rise of placental Corticotrophin-Releasing Hormone (pCRH) across pregnancy has been understudied. In a sociodemographically and racially diverse sample of 1303 women (64% Black, 36% White/others) with low-medical risk pregnancies at enrollment from Shelby County, Tennessee, USA, blood samples were drawn twice, corresponding roughly to second and third trimester, and extracted prior to conducting radioimmune assays for pCRH. Mothers reported CTE (physical abuse, sexual abuse, or family violence, in childhood), adulthood traumatic events, and interpersonal violence during pregnancy. Read More

Prev Med 2020 12 26;141:106303. Epub 2020 Oct 26.

Department of Psychology, Faculty of Arts, University of Calgary, Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, 2500 University Dr. NW, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada. Electronic address:

Substance use in pregnancy, including alcohol use, drug use, or smoking, is associated with poor health outcomes for both the mother and her unborn child. Building on previous research that has examined the cumulative impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) on maternal binge drinking and alcohol use in pregnancy, the current study sought to examine the association between maternal ACEs and substance use in pregnancy more broadly, including alcohol use, binge drinking, smoking, and drug use. Furthermore, we also examined how different adversity subtypes, including sexual abuse, family violence (physical abuse, emotional abuse), and household dysfunction, differentially predict maternal substance use behavior. Read More

BMJ Paediatr Open 2020 29;4(1):e000799. Epub 2020 Sep 29.

Paediatrics, Amsterdam UMC Locatie AMC, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

Background: The consequences of child sexual abuse (CSA) can be significant and can affect short-term and long-term mental, sexual and physical health. In order to offer timely and appropriate care for the child, early recognition of CSA is necessary. The lack of specific physical and psychological signs and barriers to abuse disclosure that these young victims face makes it difficult for medical and psychological professionals to recognise and confirm CSA signs. Read More

Arch Dis Child 2021 Apr 6;106(4):372-376. Epub 2020 Oct 6.

BPSU, Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, London, UK.

Objectives: Describe cases of female genital mutilation (FGM) presenting to consultant paediatricians and sexual assault referral centres (SARCs), including demographics, medical symptoms, examination findings and outcome.

Design: The well-established epidemiological surveillance study performed through the British Paediatric Surveillance Unit included FGM on the monthly returns.

Setting: All consultant paediatricians and relevant SARC leads across the UK and Ireland. Read More