Adolescents In Italy Research Articles

Immigrants' children's transition to secondary school in Italy.

Choosing a secondary school represents an important step in the lives of students in Italy, in that it has a strong bearing on their ultimate educational achievement and labor force trajectory. In this paper, we analyze the effect of generational status and length of residence on the transition to secondary school among immigrants living in Italy. Using data from the ITAGEN2 follow-up, we analyze scholastic results from the middle school final exam and the choice of secondary school among the adolescents in Italy. Children of immigrants are more likely to have inferior outcomes on the middle school exam and to enroll in vocational and polytechnic schools. Our multivariate results indicate that, after controlling for the family's human capital and other key background factors, immigrant students show greater propensity to choose a vocational path. Differences between immigrants and natives in secondary school tracks are also manifest when previous scholastic results are taken into account.

A randomised controlled trial of a school-based intervention to prevent tobacco use among children and adolescents in Italy

Aim A randomised field trial was conducted to evaluate a school-based programme to prevent tobacco use in children and adolescents.

Prevalence of the metabolic syndrome among extremely obese adolescents in Italy and Germany

Juvenile metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a growing major medical problem in industrialised countries. We estimated its prevalence among two similar clinic-based sequentially recruited cohorts of extremely obese adolescents (age: 12–18 years) from Italy ( N = 665, males = 271, females = 394) and Germany ( N = 661, males = 261, females = 400) using the recent IDF paediatric criteria. The prevalence of the MetS was 23.3% among the Italians and 40.4% among the Germans. A multivariate logistic regression revealed an increased risk related to age (adjusted odd ratio (AOR): 2.24; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.59–3.16; p < 0.001), BMI SDS (AOR: 3.61; 95% CI: 2.33–5.60; p < 0.001), male gender (AOR: 2.36; 95% CI: 1.80–3.10; p < 0.001), and in German adolescents (AOR: 2.56; 95% CI: 1.98–3.31; p < 0.001). Among Italian adolescents having the MetS, 83% had 3 abnormalities, 16% had 4 abnormalities while less than 1% had all the 5 abnormalities. In the German cohort, 67%, 28% and 5% of affected individuals had 3, 4 and 5 abnormalities, respectively. These results indicate that MetS is highly prevalent among extremely obese adolescents, and suggest that (besides age, obesity and gender) national sociocultural factors, as alimentary trends, could be important. Further tools should be developed to understand international epidemiological differences concerning obesity and its comorbidities in relation to lifestyles in the countries of European Union.

ADOLESCENT CONTRACEPTION

The article investigates contraception among adolescents in Italy, where it is estimated that 50% of teenagers between 15-19 have already initiated a sexual life. The choice of the proper contraceptive method is of utmost importance, so that it will not interfere with the future fertility of the woman. Hormonal contraception can be dangerous for adolescents, since it can cause permanent unbalance on the hypothalamo-hypophisary-ovarian axis; the minipill can cause menstrual disorders even greater than those caused by the pill. Insertion of a small size IUD, such as the Gravigard, can be advisable for most teenagers, provided they can be seen regularly by a doctor. Topical or barrier methods can be very effective only when properly employed; teenagers choosing any such method should be carefully instructed as to their careful use. Abortion, leaving aside any ethical consideration, is not a contraceptive method, and should be recurred to only in extreme cases. The extremely delicate and important role a physician can play in advising teenagers is self-evident.

Use of television, videogames, and computer among children and adolescents in Italy

BackgroundThis survey determined the practices about television (video inclusive), videogames, and computer use in children and adolescents in Italy.MethodsA self-administered anonymous questionnaire covered socio-demographics; behaviour about television, videogames, computer, and sports; parental control over television, videogames, and computer.ResultsOverall, 54.1% and 61% always ate lunch or dinner in front of the television, 89.5% had a television in the bedroom while 52.5% of them always watched television there, and 49% indicated that parents controlled the content of what was watched on television. The overall mean length of time daily spent on television viewing (2.8 hours) and the frequency of watching for at least two hours per day (74.9%) were significantly associated with older age, always ate lunch or dinner while watching television, spent more time playing videogames and using computer. Those with parents from a lower socio-economic level were also more likely to spend more minutes viewing television. Two-thirds played videogames for 1.6 daily hours and more time was spent by those younger, males, with parents that do not control them, who watched more television, and who spent more time at the computer. The computer was used by 85% of the sample for 1.6 daily hours and those older, with a computer in the bedroom, with a higher number of computers in home, who view more television and play videogames were more likely to use the computer.ConclusionImmediate and comprehensive actions are needed in order to diminish time spent at the television, videogames, and computer.

Prevalence and correlates of mental disorders among adolescents in Italy: the PrISMA study

While in the last 5 years several studies have been conducted in Italy on the prevalence of mental disorders in adults, to date no epidemiological study has been targeted on mental disorders in adolescents. A two-phase study was conducted on 3,418 participants using the child behavior checklist/6-18 (CBCL) and the development and well-being assessment (DAWBA), a structured interview with verbatim reports reviewed by clinicians. The prevalence of CBCL caseness and DSM-IV disorders was 9.8% (CI 8.8-10.8%) and 8.2% (CI 4.2-12.3%), respectively. DSM-IV Emotional disorders were more frequently observed (6.5% CI 2.2-10.8%) than externalizing disorders (1.2% CI 0.2-2.3%). In girls, prevalence estimates increased significantly with age; furthermore, living with a single parent, low level of maternal education, and low family income were associated with a higher likelihood of suffering from emotional or behavioral problems. Approximately one in ten adolescents has psychological problems. Teachers and clinicians should focus on boys and girls living with a single parent and/or in disadvantaged socioeconomic conditions.

Health Status in Immigrants and Native Early Adolescents in Italy

The aim of the study was to compare health status between native and immigrant early adolescents in Italy and to analyze related psychosocial factors. Data were taken from "Health Behavior in School Aged Children", a cross-sectional survey investigating health behaviors among early adolescents in selected European countries. A representative sample of 6,744 (50.4% males) Italian students (11, 13 and 15-years-old) completed a questionnaire. Students were assessed for demographics characteristics, socio-economic conditions, social support and bullying victimization, and, as dependent variables, for health complaints, self-reported health, life satisfaction and happiness. It turned out that immigrant adolescents, as compared to natives, are more often affected by psychosomatic symptoms, less satisfied about their health and about life, and less happy. A multiple regression model showed that migration itself is related to life satisfaction and happiness. Socio-economic inequalities, lack of social integration and victimization determine the differences between immigrants and natives in terms of health symptoms and self-reported health. Immigrant adolescents demonstrated worse health status then their native classmates. However, the differences in terms of subjective well-being are not explained by socio-economic differences, lack of social integration and discrimination.

Prevalence of Atopic Dermatitis in Italian Schoolchildren: Factors Affecting its Variation

The frequency of atopic dermatitis in Italian children and its relationship with selected variables were analysed in a large survey of skin health conducted in Italy. In 1997 we conducted a survey on schoolchildren aged 12-17 years from 13 areas of northern, central and southern Italy. For the present analyses, 3179 Caucasian children (1618 males, 1561 females) were considered. A diagnosis of atopic dermatitis was reported in 224 cases (7.0%). The frequency of reported atopic dermatitis was significantly higher in children with asthma (rate ratio (RR) 4.5; 95% confidence interval (CI) 3.1-6.5). The lifetime prevalence of a diagnosis of atopic dermatitis was higher among schoolchildren reporting a diagnosis of psoriasis (RR 5.5, 95% CI 3.0-10.1) and vitiligo (RR 16.1, 95% CI 6.5-39.5). This study gives estimates of the lifetime prevalence of atopic dermatitis in adolescents in Italy and emphasizes the direct association between the condition and other immune-related skin diseases.

Inflammatory bowel disease in children and adolescents in Italy: Data from the pediatric national IBD register (1996–2003)

The purpose was to assess in Italy the clinical features at diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in children. In 1996 an IBD register of disease onset was established on a national scale. Up to the end of 2003, 1576 cases of pediatric IBD were recorded: 810 (52%) ulcerative colitis (UC), 635 (40%) Crohn's disease (CD), and 131 (8%) indeterminate colitis (IC). In the period 1996-2003 an increase of IBD incidence from 0.89 to 1.39/10(5) inhabitants aged <18 years was observed. IBD was more frequent among children aged between 6 and 12 years (57%) but 20% of patients had onset of the disease under 6 years of age; 28 patients were <1 year of age. Overall, 11% had 1 or more family members with IBD. The mean interval between onset of symptoms and diagnosis was higher in CD (10.1 months) and IC (9 months) versus UC (5.8 months). Extended colitis was the most frequent form in UC and ileocolic involvement the most frequent in CD. Upper intestinal tract involvement was present in 11% of CD patients. IC locations were similar to those of UC. Bloody diarrhea and abdominal pain were the most frequent symptoms in UC and IC, and abdominal pain and diarrhea in CD. Extraintestinal symptoms were more frequent in CD than in UC. The IBD incidence in children and adolescents in Italy shows an increasing trend for all 3 pathologies. UC diagnoses exceeded CD.

Language Socialisation and Language Shift in the 1b Generation: A Study of Moroccan Adolescents in Italy

This paper reports on a longitudinal ethnographic study of the language socialisation of a group of Moroccan adolescents who migrated to Italy in the late 1990s. The approach is based on the notion of language socialisation, which sees the process of acquiring a language as linked to that of becoming a member of a culture. The participants live in small towns in a semi-rural area in Northern Italy and were closely observed during their initial contact with Italian Ethnographic observations continued in the following years, and were conducted both in the homes and in school programmes. Five years later, in-depth interviews were carried out on a range of issues dealing with ethnolinguistic identity, and language knowledge and use in a variety of domains and intercultural relationships. Written materials were also collected on personal experiences and attitudes towards Italy and Morocco. These data, taken together, show how socialisation into the new culture is producing a very rapid shift in language use and associated attitudes towards the different languages in the repertoire, i.e. Italian, Moroccan and Standard Arabic, and other European languages. Patterns of language use, linguistic ideologies and ethnolinguistic identity of this multilingual community are discussed in relation to educational policies.

Prevalence and factors related to malocclusion and orthodontic treatment need in children and adolescents in Italy

The purpose of this study was to determine prevalence of malocclusions, normative and perceived orthodontic treatment need and related risk factors in schoolchildren in Italy. A random sample of 1000 11-15 years old children was selected from randomly selected schools in Catanzaro (Italy). Parents completed a questionnaire on sociodemographic, orthodontic history and perception of their child orthodontic treatment need. Children were interviewed on utilization of dental services, perception of orthodontic treatment need and use of orthodontic devices. The Decayed, Missing, Filled Teeth (DMFT) index and the Dental Health Component (DHC) of the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need (IOTN) were assessed. The Aesthetic Component (AC) of IOTN was assessed by parents, children and dentist. A total of 546 children participated in the study. Three hundred and twenty-five subjects (59.5%) were assigned a 4 or 5 IOTN score, thus requiring orthodontic treatment. Definite treatment need (AC score 8-10) was reported for 8.6% of subjects by the orthodontist, 5.4% by parents and 3.2% by children. Higher DMFT significantly predicted orthodontic treatment need according to IOTN. Perceived orthodontic treatment need was significantly predicted by orthodontic treatment need for crowding/spacing and overjet. A high proportion of children needs normative orthodontic treatment and perceptions of orthodontic treatment do not overlap with normative need.

Cigarette smoking and alcohol behaviour among adolescents in Italy

The onset of cigarette smoking and alcohol con-sumption during early adolescence is of criticalsignificance since it may contribute to the devel-opment of a variety of diseases. Indeed, there is astrong link between smoking and alcohol consump-tion and the increasing mortality and morbidityrates of respiratory and cardiovascular diseases,cancer, and psychiatric disorders. In Italy, greatattention has been paid to prevention strategiesaimed at communicating health risks and reducingconsumption, and recently the parliament enactedmore comprehensive and aggressive tobacco con-trol legislation, which included restrictions onsmoking in all public settings and an increase inthe price of a packet of cigarettes.The purpose of this study was to evaluate theprevalence of cigarette smoking and alcohol con-sumption, and the knowledge concerning theirhealth effects among adolescents in Italy.This study was conducted from October toDecember 2002, involving 700 adolescents aged14–18 years randomly selected from randomlyselected public secondary classes in the city ofCatanzaro, Italy. Students completed an anon-ymous self-administered questionnaire in the class-room; participation was voluntary after providinginformed consent. The questionnaire includeditems on: socio-demographics; past and currentcigarette smoking and alcohol consumption beha-viour; knowledge and main sources of informationon the health effects of active and passivecigarette smoking and of alcohol consumption;number of adult family members and close friends

Risky behaviors among motorcycling adolescents in Italy

To investigate the relationship between risky behaviors and motorcycling in adolescents in Italy. A questionnaire was administered to a random sample of 1000 adolescents attending randomly selected public secondary schools to assess personal characteristics and lifestyle; motorcycle and helmet use; behavior while driving a motorcycle; traffic-related accidents, and receipt of tickets. Of the 894 responders, 54% and 29.2% routinely use the helmet as driver or passenger, respectively. Routine helmet use was higher among males, current smokers, alcohol drinkers, and those who reported that at least one close friend used a helmet. Motorcycling after consuming alcohol was higher in males, in current smokers, and in those who used cell phones and were tired while driving. An accident in the past year occurred in 25.7% of riders and was significantly higher in those who used cell phones while driving and in those who were interested in learning about motorcycle use. Adolescents who reported always motorcycling over the speed limit were at lower risk of smoking, talking with the passenger, and using a cell phone while driving. Being male, being older, learning about motorcycle use from someone outside the family, talking with a passenger, and using a cell phone while driving increased the risk of receiving a ticket. Educational programs, legislative measures, and policies to reduce risk behaviors in adolescents who use motorcycles are needed.

Changes in Prevalence of Asthma and Allergies Among Children and Adolescents in Italy: 1994–2002

Several studies conducted during the 1990s indicated an increase in the prevalence of symptoms of asthma; more recent investigations suggest that the trend is stabilizing or may even be reversing. We compared 2 cross-sectional surveys conducted in 1994 and 2002 in 8 areas in northern and central Italy, to evaluate prevalence changes for asthma, allergic rhinitis, and eczema. The International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood methods and questionnaires were used to investigate 6- to 7-year-old children (16,115 and 11,287 questionnaires completed by parents in 1994-1995 and 2002, respectively) and 13- to 14-year-old adolescents (19,723 and 10,267 questionnaires completed by adolescents in 1994-1995 and 2002, respectively). In each phase, the overall response rate was >90%. Prevalence changes were calculated as the absolute difference between the prevalence recorded on the 2 occasions. The prevalence of wheeze (past 12 months) increased slightly among children (change: 0.8%; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.0% to 1.6%) and was rather stable among adolescents. Symptoms of allergic rhinitis (children: change: 5.2%; 95% CI: 4.0% to 6.4%; adolescents: change: 4.1%; 95% CI: 1.9% to 6.3%) and symptoms of atopic eczema (children: change: 4.4%; 95% CI: 3.6% to 5.2%; adolescents: change: 2.1%; 95% CI: 1.2% to 3.0%) increased clearly in both age groups. There was some heterogeneity across the centers among adolescents, especially for allergic rhinitis, with larger increases seen in the 3 metropolitan areas. The changes observed paralleled profound family changes, ie, better parental education, higher rates of maternal employment, and lower rates of exposure to parental smoke. These factors, however, do not explain all of the observed changes in prevalence. The results indicate that the epidemiologic features of asthma and allergies in Italy are changing rapidly, although the causes are still uncertain.

Mould/dampness exposure at home is associated with respiratory disorders in Italian children and adolescents: the SIDRIA-2 Study

Aims: To report on the relation between home mould and/or dampness exposure and respiratory disorders in a large sample of children and adolescents in Italy, accounting for age at time...

Blood pressure and related cardiovascular disease risk factors in 6–18 year‐old students in Italy

The aims of this study were to provide data on blood pressure (BP) levels, to measure prevalence of high-normal or high BP and to identify a set of conditions that may predict high BP (HBP) in a population of children and adolescents in Italy. A random sample of students 6-18 years old attending randomly selected schools in Catanzaro, Italy, was recruited. All students completed a questionnaire on their health and on health behaviours, such as physical activity, diet, drinking and smoking. Blood pressure, heart rate, height, weight and body mass index (BMI) were recorded. Of the 603 subjects examined, 12.8% had high-normal BP, 3.5% hypertension (HTN) and 11.1% were obese. High-normal or high diastolic BP (DBP) was significantly more likely in older subjects with a higher BMI, in those with a smoker mother and in preterm children, whereas high-normal or high systolic BP (SBP) was significantly more likely to be found in older subjects with a higher BMI and in those who had at least one parent with HTN. High-normal or high DBP or SBP were significantly predicted by BMI and age. Interventions should focus at reducing obesity and encouraging proper dietary habits, sufficient exercise and cessation of smoking habit in parents too, especially in children with a family history of HTN.

Seroprevalence and seroincidence of herpes simplex virus type 1 and herpes simplex virus type 2 infections in a cohort of adolescents in Italy.

The objective of this study was to improve the knowledge on the epidemiology of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) and herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) in Italy. The goal of this study was to study the seroincidence and seroprevalence of HSV-1 and HSV-2 infections among Italian adolescents. We conducted a retrospective longitudinal study among 345 Italian adolescents tested for anti-HSV-1 and anti-HSV-2 on samples collected at 11 and 17 years of age. At 11 years of age, the HSV-1 prevalence was 51.6% and the HSV-2 prevalence was 2.6%; when 17 years old, these rates increased to 61.4% and 4.9%, respectively. The HSV-1 incidence was 1.6 per 100 person-years and was higher among females. The HSV-2 incidence was 0.4 per 100 person-years with no gender differences. HSV-1 is apparently widespread among Italian adolescents, whereas HSV-2 is limited. These data are of paramount importance when considering that HSV-1 can cause genital herpes and that HSV-2 plays a role in HIV transmission.

Suicide in Adolescents in Italy (1969–1994)

Suicide in Adolescents in Italy (1969–1994)

Genital Mutilation among Female Adolescents Resident in Italy

Focuses on genital mutilation among female adolescents in Italy. Facts about female genital mutilation as practice; Awareness of the excisory culture on young girls due to immigration; Comments on the results of the research.

Prescription of neuroleptics for children and adolescents in Italy.

The objective of this study was to describe the use of neuroleptics among children and adolescents in the province of Rome. Subjects 5 to 19 years of age who received neuroleptic prescriptions within the National Health Service between 1986 and 1991 were identified. Prevalence and incidence of use were estimated. The yearly prevalence of use during the study period ranged from 1.3 to 1.7 per 1000 inhabitants. The incidence during 1989 was 1.1 per 1000, with a marked increase with age. Haloperidol was the drug most frequently prescribed; 59.2% of the subjects received only one prescription during the year. Among subjects with more than one prescription, 42.3% received neuroleptics in combination. The observed pattern of use suggests that in current practice neuroleptics are also used for the treatment of nonpsychotic conditions. The analysis of data derived from a prescription monitoring system may provide an important contribution to the description of neuroleptic use among children and adolescents.