Beliefs Supporting Violence, Attitudes and Aggressive Behavior Among School Adolescents in Rural Delhi.

Violence and aggression amongst adolescents is increasing across the globe. However, the research on adolescent violence in India is limited. The present study was undertaken to study aggressive beliefs, attitudes, behavior rural schools in north district of Delhi. It was a cross-sectional study conducted among adolescents studying in grade VIII-X in three rural schools in Delhi, selected by non-probability sampling. The data was collected using a questionnaire adapted from CDC Compendium of tools measuring aggression. Out of the total 270 adolescents, there were 119 boys (44.1%) and 151 (55.9%) girls. The mean score of beliefs, attitude aggressive behaviour for private co-ed school was highest while all girls' school had lowest (p < 0.001). Being male (p < 0.001), studying in private co-ed school (p < 0.001) and having attitude towards violence (p = 0.02) contributed significantly to total aggression score. The study highlighted that type of school, gender and attitudes influence adolescents' behavior towards aggression.

The Health Effects of Climate Change on Children: Pediatricians Must Be Part of the Solution.

Climate change is already impacting children's health in a variety of ways. Indian children are among the most severely affected; they are experiencing respiratory illnesses from air pollution, heat-related illnesses, malnutrition, vector- and water-borne diseases; and mental health problems such as post-traumatic stress disorder from weather disasters. There is a need to increase awareness and capacity building among paediatricians for understanding the impact of climate change on the health of children and educating parents about preventive measures. Detailed environmental history taking will help to identify risk factors. To address climate change issues, professional paediatric associations should increase their advocacy with government agencies. It is essential to ask policymakers to immediately reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Reducing the burning of coal and other fossil fuels and moving to renewable energy sources such as solar and wind will reduce India's carbon emissions and decrease environmental illness among children. The pediatricians of India should declare that climate change is a child health emergency.

Role of Psychologist in Adolescent Medicine: An International Perspective.

Adolescent Medicine addresses the health care of adolescents, young adults, and their families. Adolescent psychology constitutes an important part. The COVID-19 pandemic has given insight into adolescent needs, bringing the focus on prevention rather than mere correction. One needs to factor in the unique aspects of adolescence, their need to impress peers and gain acceptance, and their unique information processing, not calculating trade-offs between risk and reward the way adults might, in a linear, rational, logical, and verbal manner. The article focuses on the need for collaborative training among the various stakeholders in Child and Adolescent Mental Health.

Dismantling Inequities in Adolescent and Young Adult Health through a Sexual and Reproductive Health Justice Approach.

This article provides an overview of the social determinants of adolescents and young adults' (AYAs') sexual and reproductive health (SRH), from a global health perspective. The status of AYAs' SRH constitutes leading health indicators across nations and globally, and reveals the well-being of this population. Throughout the article, AYAs' SRH is approached from a health equity perspective, which includes SRH health rights and reproductive justice. Using this health equity lens, salient topics are presented: sexual abuse/assault among AYAs; immigrant and refugee populations; child, early, and forced marriage; human trafficking; and female genital mutilation. The article also discusses access to SRH services and comprehensive education. Practical implications and resources are offered for healthcare providers for their daily encounters with AYAs, as well as for community, institutional level, and advocacy action. Healthcare providers are well positioned to advance AYAs SRH through mitigating inequities and in so doing, they are assuring the health of the population and future generations.

E-cigarettes and Vaping: A Global Risk for Adolescents.

While the marketing and sale of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) in India is forbidden since September, 2019, vaping represents a significant risk to the health and safety of Indian adolescents. Though the prevalence of youth e-cigarette use in India remains unknown, pediatricians are often brought to provide care to youth who vape. In this commentary, background information on e-cigarettes including a review of the different types of vaping devices and of the substances contained in e-cigarette liquids is provided. The short- and long-term health risks associated with vaping, including risks for the developing brain, acute lung injuries and long-term mental health effects, and a practical approach for clinical management of e-cigarette use for Indian pediatricians is presented. Public health measures to prevent and reduce youth vaping and a review of current Indian laws and policies around e-cigarette use are also mentioned.

Pediatric Residency Training for Integration of Behavior Health: Indian Perspective.

Behaviour disorders are common in children. Various studies in children and Adolescents in India have found that 6% to 30% of study participants had one or other behaviour This calls for emphasis on integration of behavioral health (IBH) in the training programs for medical undergraduates and postgraduates in paediatrics. This article examines the current medical training programs for IBH of children and adolescents in curriculum of these programs in India. Pediatrics residency programs are described. The impact of Indian culture on IBH issues is also discussed. Ideas for integrating behavioral health in Medical education in India are given.

Anxiety and depressive disorders in college youth.

Fear and anxiety are common experiences throughout childhood and adolescence. Anxiety disorders, along with depression and dysthymia, are characterized as internalizing disorders; they stand in distinction from the externalizing disorders representing such conditions as oppositional-defiant disorder and conduct disorder. Clinicians evaluating anxiety disorders in college youth face the task of differentiating normal, transient, developmentally appropriate expression of anxiety from pathologic states of anxiety. The developmental course of anxiety and depression, its appropriateness, and its boundaries are areas of research and interest. A wide clinical perspective is necessary to effectively engage the assessment process. The treatment of anxiety and depression in youth is ideally multi-modal, involving medication, psychotherapy, and psychosocial interventions. This article focuses on assessment and treatment of anxiety and depression. These are presented separately, although areas of overlap often are encountered in practice.

Controversies in chicken-pox immunization.

Chicken-pox is one more newer vaccine in our armamentarium against infectious diseases. Due to its extremely contagious nature, varicella is experienced by almost every child or young adult in the world. Each year from 1990 to 1994, prior to availability of varicella vaccine, about 4 million cases of varicella occurred in the United States. Of these cases approximately 10,000 required hospitalization and 100 died. Although varicella is not commonly perceived as an important public health problem, the socioeconomic consequences in industrialized countries of a disease that affects practically every child and causes the carrier absence from work should not be underestimated. The varicella vaccines available in the market are safe and effective. A recent cost-benefit analysis in USA showed that routine chicken-pox vaccination is likely to save five times the investment. Even when only direct costs were considered, benefits almost balanced the costs. At present similar studies from developing countries are not available. The public health impact of varicella and zoster may be increasing in regions with high endemic rates of HIV infection. Varicella vaccine may be used either at an individual level to protect susceptible adolescents and adults, or at a population level, to cover all children as part of a national immunization programme. Vaccination of adolescents and adults will protect at-risk individuals, but will not have a significant impact on the epidemiology of the disease on a population basis. On the other hand, extensive use as a routine vaccine in children will have a significant impact on the epidemiology of the disease. If sustained high coverage can be achieved, the disease may virtually disappear. If only partial coverage can be obtained, the epidemiology may shift, leading to an increase in the number of cases in older children and adults. Hence, routine childhood varicella immunization programmes should emphasize high, sustained coverage. At present, this vaccine will have a lower priority in the National Immunization Schedule that does not have MMR and typhoid, which have a greater socioeconomic impact. Hence, at the present time WHO does not recommend the inclusion of varicella vaccination into the routine immunization programmes of developing countries.

Injection safety and Indian Academy of Pediatrics.

A major proportion of injections administered in India are unsafe. Unsafety is due to (1) steps that are associated with increased risk of spread of blood borne viruses and (2) errors related to technique of injection and faulty habits. Recommendations of Indian Academy of Pediatrics revolve round the following points: Equipment related, safe injection practices, best injection techniques, rational injection practices, prevention of needle stick injuries and reducing disease transmission recommendation for HIV-PEP (postexposure prophylaxis), HBV-PEP, disposal of syringes and sharps. The points have been discussed elaborately.