Higher Percentage Of Girls Research Articles

Screening of Hearing and Vision Impairment in Primary School Children in Relation to Grade and Sex

Objective – The aim of the study was to establish the prevalence of hearing and sight impairment, and the differences in relation to school grade and sex in school children in the area of the Jajce municipality.Materials and Methods – Screening of sight and hearing impairment in school children took place in 2018 and 2019. Vision screening covered a total of 1002 students from 1st to 5th grades, and hearing screening 768 students from 2nd to 5th grades in all central and district (rural) schools in the area of the municipality of Jajce.Results – Of the total number of students covered by the vision screening, in 163 (16%) some impairment was noticed, and they were sent for further diagnostic testing by a specialist. In relation to sex, there was a higher percentage of girls, 60%, than boys, 40%. In relation to screening of hearing, 44 (6%) of the students were sent for further diagnostics, of which 57% were boys and 43% girls. During the vision screening, 5% of the students were wearing dioptric glasses. In relation to age, the largest number of students were in first grade, 14 (27%), then in second grade, 10 students (19%). Conclusion – In this study, the results showed that a large percentage of school children were found with hearing and vision impairment, which indicates the pressing need to continue running these preventive programmes.

Musculoskeletal pain and its association with health status, maturity, and sports performance in adolescent sport school students: a 2-year follow-up

BackgroundMusculoskeletal pain and its risk factors are rarely assessed in studies on adolescent athletes. The aim was to identify risk factors at baseline that were associated with the persistence or development of musculoskeletal pain at a two-year follow-up in adolescent sport school students, and to study cross-sectional associations at follow-up between musculoskeletal pain and sports performance.MethodsSport school students (79 boys and 52 girls, aged 14 years at baseline) were divided into infrequent (never–monthly) or frequent (weekly–almost daily) pain groups, based on frequency of pain using a pain mannequin. Logistic regression analyses were performed to study longitudinal associations between frequent pain at follow-up and baseline variables: pain group, number of regions with frequent pain, health status by EQ-5D, maturity offset (pre, average, or post peak height velocity), and sports (contact or non-contact). Linear regression analyses were used to study cross-sectional associations between pain groups and 20-m sprint, agility T-test, counter-movement jump, and grip strength at follow-up. Results were stratified by sex.ResultsA higher percentage of girls than boys reported frequent pain at follow-up (62% vs. 37%; p = 0.005). In boys, frequent pain at follow-up was associated with being pre peak height velocity at baseline (OR 3.884, CI 1.146–13.171; p = 0.029) and participating in non-contact sports (OR 3.429, CI 1.001–11.748; p = 0.050). In girls, frequent pain at follow-up was associated with having frequent pain in two or more body regions at baseline (OR 3.600, CI 1.033–12.542; p = 0.044), having a worse health status at baseline (OR 3.571, CI 1.026–12.434; p = 0.045), and participating in non-contact sports (OR 8.282, CI 2.011–34.116; p = 0.003). In boys, frequent pain was associated with worse performances in 20-m sprint and counter-movement jump, but not in agility T-test and grip strength.ConclusionsBaseline risk factors for having frequent pain at follow-up were late maturation in boys, frequent pain and worse health status in girls, and participation in non-contact sports in both sexes. Boys with pain performed worse in sports tests. Coaches and school health-care services should pay attention to the risk factors and work towards preventing pain from becoming persistent.

Diet, Physical Activity and Food Consumption Pattern of Adolescent Girls in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria

The prevalence of overweight and obesity especially among adolescent girls has increased at an alarming rate in many parts of the world. This study was designed to assess the diet, physical activity and food consumption pattern of adolescent girls in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. A descriptive cross sectional survey carried out using a pre-tested self-administered structured questionnaire among 236 adolescent girls aged 10-16 years from randomly selected secondary schools in Port Harcourt. A self-administered questionnaire used to collect data on diet, physical activity and food consumption patterns of the respondents. The collected data analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS version 19.0). The frequency and descriptive analysis were included in the data analysis. The result revealed that a high percentage of girls (55.71%) skip their breakfast sometimes, consumed light meals (47.71%), had their meals thrice per day (61.43%) and eats occasionally from outside their homes (55.71%). The result also showed that rice (44.92%), yam (69.49%), sweet potatoes (47.88%), beans (33.90%), vegetables (47.88%), milk and milk products (36.86%) and energy dense beverages (38.14%) mostly consumed 1-2 times per week, while fish (51.27%), meat (51.27%), fruits (33.05%) and snacks (49.58%) were more consumed daily by the adolescent girls. The result also revealed that the girls were more active in dancing, walking for exercise and jogging/running. It was also found out that more than 60% or more of the adolescent girls were participating in some kind of regular physical activity on a weekly basis. The findings emphasize an urgent need for implementing an appropriate intervention for breakfast consumption, improving vegetable intake and daily milk consumption as this could assist in preventing the development of diseases associated with an inadequate intake of nutritious food.

Hepatic Abnormalities in Youth With Turner Syndrome

Abstract Background: While cardiac complications, short stature, and infertility are often discussed in the context of Turner Syndrome (TS), abnormalities of liver function are less well described. In order to address this gap in knowledge, we sought to better characterize hepatic abnormalities in youth with TS. Methods: PEDSnet is a collaboration across 7 major US pediatric institutions that unifies electronic medical data including diagnoses, prescriptions, and laboratory measurements for over 6 million children. 2,145 females with a diagnosis of TS were matched to 8,580 females without TS (1:4 ratio) on site, race (68% White), ethnicity (15% Hispanic), payer source, year of birth, age at most recent visit (median 14 years), and duration of care (mean 8 years). Outcomes of interest included highest recorded liver enzyme values (AST and ALT) categorized as normal or above the upper limit of normal (ULN) defined as >95th percentile for their age, and specific liver diagnoses. Proportions were compared between the cohorts using odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) from a generalized estimating equations approach. Multinomial logistic regression was conducted to investigate potential risk factors for liver abnormalities within the TS cohort. Results: Out of 1,159 girls with TS who had liver enzymes recorded in PEDSnet, 58% had at least one AST or ALT above the ULN. TS patients were more likely to have enzymes 1-2 times ULN (OR: 1.7, 95% CI: 1.4-1.9), more likely to be in the 2-3 times ULN category (OR: 2.7, 95% CI: 1.7-3.3), and more likely to be in the >3 times ULN category (OR: 1.7, 95% CI: 1.3-2.2) compared to girls without TS. TS patients were also more likely to have any liver diagnosis (OR: 2.4, 95% CI: 1.7-3.3), including significantly higher risk of fatty liver disease (OR: 1.9, 95% CI: 1.1-3.2), hepatitis (OR: 3.7, 95% CI: 1.9-7.1), cirrhosis/fibrosis (OR: 5.8, 95% CI: 1.3-25.0), and liver tumor/malignancy (OR: 4.8, 95% CI: 1.4-17.0). In the multinomial model, age, BMI, and the presence of a thyroid condition, cardiovascular diagnosis, or diabetes significantly (p < 0.05) increased the risk for elevated liver enzymes in girls with TS, while mosaicism, estrogen prescription, and celiac disease did not. Stratifying by age groups, over 40% of girls with TS had ALT elevations (24% > 2 times ULN, some with diagnosed liver conditions) under age 10, when liver screening is officially recommended per TS guidelines. Conclusions: Prevalence of elevated liver enzymes and diagnoses of liver disease are significantly higher in youth with TS vs. controls, emphasizing the need for clinical monitoring and additional research. Given the high percentage of girls <10 years of age with clinically significant liver enzyme elevation, there should be strong consideration for modifying the current guidelines to start screening earlier.

Association of Cardiorespiratory Fitness with Achievement Motivation in Physical Education in Adolescents.

Cardiorespiratory fitness is an important health marker in adolescents. Thus, examining the relation between cardiorespiratory fitness and motivation should be important to increase health-related behaviors. This study aimed to describe adolescents’ cardiorespiratory fitness and motivation by gender and to analyze the association between two cardiorespiratory fitness tests (original and with music) and motivation. A total of 341 adolescents (14.2 ± 1.5 years, 52.2% girls) participated in this study. Cardiorespiratory fitness was assessed using the 20 m shuttle run and its adaptation with music. Motivation was assessed though the “Achievement Motivation towards Physical Education” questionnaire. Boys presented with higher cardiorespiratory fitness and motivation (all, p < 0.05). Yet, when classifying fit and unfit groups, a higher percentage of girls were considered fit compared to boys (85.8% vs. 74.5%). A higher level of cardiorespiratory fitness (stages) and VO2max were associated with a higher level of motivation (self-perceived competence and compared competence) and lower anxiety (all p < 0.05). These associations with motivation were stronger when the music was present in the test. In this sense, including music in activities focused on cardiorespiratory fitness could increase the cardiorespiratory fitness performance and motivation, especially in girls. It should be important to increase adolescents’ cardiorespiratory fitness levels in order to increase motivation in physical education lessons and to include more motivational activities in order to achieve higher performance.

Healthier Lifestyle for Girls Who Accumulate More Years in the FitSpirit School-Based Intervention.

The main aim was to verify in a group of adolescent girls undergoing a school-based intervention if the number of years of participation in the intervention is related to healthy lifestyle habits, body weight status, and perceived health. Cross-sectional analysis of the FitSpirit data was performed. Body mass index, lifestyle variables, and perceived health were collected through an online questionnaire. Chi-square test, Fisher's test, and ANOVA were performed. Mean age of the 272 girls was 14.7 ± 1.5 years. Higher percentage of girls with 3 or more years of participation met the recommendations for physical activity (PA) and sleep duration (P < .05). Girls who participated ≥3 years showed higher levels of moderate-to-vigorous PA than girls with 1 and 2 years of participation (P < .01). No differences were found between the number of years of participation and body mass index, screen time, fruit/vegetable consumption, or perceived health. A healthier body weight status and following recommendations for healthier habits (PA, screen time, sleep, fruit/vegetable consumption) were related to better perceived health (P < .05). Girls with more years in FitSpirit had healthier lifestyle habits (PA and sleep) compared to those with fewer years. A healthier body weight status and meeting healthy lifestyle recommendations were related to better perceived health.

Curbing Youth E-cigarette Use Must Remain a Priority.

* Abbreviations: e-cigarette — : electronic cigarette EVALI — : electronic cigarette, or vaping, product use–associated lung injury FDA — : US Food and Drug Administration In this month’s issue of Pediatrics , Rao et al1 report a retrospective study of 13 adolescents in Dallas, Texas, who were hospitalized and treated for electronic cigarette, or vaping, product use–associated lung injury (EVALI). The first EVALI cases were reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on August 1, 2019, although subsequent retrospective analysis of emergency department data has revealed that visits for EVALI had started by June 20192 and peaked in September 2019.3 The group of patients described by Rao et al1 are younger than the national average (15.9 vs 24 years nationally), with a higher percentage of girls (54% vs 34%) and more people of Hispanic ethnicity (46% vs 15%).3 Similar to national reports, the majority of patients (92%) reported vaping tetrahydrocannabinol-containing products, and more than half (62%) reported vaping nicotine-containing products. Consistent with previous reports of EVALI, clinical severity varied greatly between cases, including one patient experiencing a near-fatal clinical course involving extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and long-term mechanical ventilation. Interestingly, 85% of patients had gastrointestinal symptoms (commonly nausea and vomiting), and 4 presented with predominantly gastrointestinal symptoms. The authors report rapid clinical improvement attributed to the … Address correspondence to S. Christy Sadreameli, MD, MHS, Eudowood Division of Pediatric Respiratory Sciences, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, 200 N Wolfe St, Third Floor, Baltimore, MD 21287. E-mail: ssadrea1{at}jhmi.edu

Psychogenic movement disorders in children and adolescents: an update.

This short communication provides an update on childhood psychogenic movement disorders (PMD), focusing on descriptive studies and case reports from 2008 to 2018. Known also as functional movement/motor disorders, PMD diagnoses are relatively common in adults but less so in children. In group studies over the past decade, sample prevalence of childhood PMD ranged from 2.8 to 23.1%, with a higher percentage of girls in most studies (consistent with adult PMD literature). Common types of PMD included tremor (32.4%), dystonia (29.5%), and myoclonus (24.3%). Precipitating events for PMD onset included H1N1 influenza vaccinations, family/child stressors, anxiety/depression in the child or parent, panic attacks, behavior disorders, injury or accident, sexual abuse of the child or family member, death of a close relative, parental discord, domestic violence, school-related problems, medical illness/surgery, sleep disturbance, and participation in competitive sport or dance. The most frequently mentioned treatments were cognitive behavioral therapy, psychotherapy, relaxation techniques, and physiotherapy.Conclusion: Although additional cases of childhood PMD have been published over the past decade, little new information has appeared. There is still no "diagnostic gold standard," making an accurate estimate of prevalence virtually impossible and contributing to confusion among pediatricians when trying to identify children with PMD. What is Known: • Psychogenic movement disorders (PMD) occur in children as well as adults. • The most common types of childhood PMD are tremor, dystonia, and myoclonus. What is New: • The most common childhood PMD treatments were cognitive behavioral therapy, psychotherapy, physiotherapy, and relaxation techniques (2008-2018). • Due to lack of a standardized definition for PMD, confusion exists as to which movement disorders to include. With the inability to reliably diagnose PMD and the ambiguity as to which movement disorders it comprises, it is difficult to determine the most effective treatments.

STUDY OF PARENTS 'ATTITUDES ON FITNESS CHILDREN'S VISITS

The European report "Bulgaria - Health Profile for the Country 2017" reflects statistics on the obesity and immobilization of young people in the country. Although adult obesity levels are below the EU average, they have increased by 25% since 2008, with statistics showing that among young people they have risen by two-thirds in the 2005-2006 and 2013- 2014 and have reached 20%. Also, more than half of Bulgarian pupils in 1-12 grades (51%) are extremely immobilized, one of the reasons being rare visits to physical education classes and lack of interest in additional sport outside compulsory schooling. Separately, every third grader in Bulgaria has a problem with extra pounds, although in most cases it is the parents who refuse to accept that their child needs change and help, not to mention a strict diet and encouragement to exercise sports. More than 50% of the children who crossed the classrooms for the first time this year in Bulgaria are already having vertebral distortion. Only 3% of Bulgarian teenagers say they sometimes go to the gym because they want to look good and build up muscle mass.However, a positive aspect is that a higher percentage of girls and boys at 15 years of age in Bulgaria report regular physical activity than in other EU countries, although less than 25% report moderate exercise intensive physical activity on a daily basis.This study aims to analyze, on the basis of an authoritative survey, the opinions and the vision of active training parents as to whether their children should be attending fitness training. The survey was conducted within 2 months through an online survey of 21 questions, with a total of 187 active sporting parents. Questions concern both the sporting aspects, the healthy diet and the overall condition of the child, through the eyes of his/her parents.

STUDY OF PARENTS 'ATTITUDES ON FITNESS CHILDREN'S VISITS

The European report "Bulgaria - Health Profile for the Country 2017" reflects statistics on the obesity and immobilization of young people in the country. Although adult obesity levels are below the EU average, they have increased by 25% since 2008, with statistics showing that among young people they have risen by two-thirds in the 2005-2006 and 2013- 2014 and have reached 20%. Also, more than half of Bulgarian pupils in 1-12 grades (51%) are extremely immobilized, one of the reasons being rare visits to physical education classes and lack of interest in additional sport outside compulsory schooling. Separately, every third grader in Bulgaria has a problem with extra pounds, although in most cases it is the parents who refuse to accept that their child needs change and help, not to mention a strict diet and encouragement to exercise sports. More than 50% of the children who crossed the classrooms for the first time this year in Bulgaria are already having vertebral distortion. Only 3% of Bulgarian teenagers say they sometimes go to the gym because they want to look good and build up muscle mass.However, a positive aspect is that a higher percentage of girls and boys at 15 years of age in Bulgaria report regular physical activity than in other EU countries, although less than 25% report moderate exercise intensive physical activity on a daily basis.This study aims to analyze, on the basis of an authoritative survey, the opinions and the vision of active training parents as to whether their children should be attending fitness training. The survey was conducted within 2 months through an online survey of 21 questions, with a total of 187 active sporting parents. Questions concern both the sporting aspects, the healthy diet and the overall condition of the child, through the eyes of his/her parents.

HUNGARIAN SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS’ PHYSICAL ACTIVITY PATTERNS WITH REGARD TO GENDER

The rationale behind the research is the Hungarian government’s decision to introduce daily physical education lessons in schools. The system was expanded to all grades by the 2016/2017 academic year. It aims to improve students’ health consciousness and sports habits. Hungarian high school students’ physical activity, participation in competitive sport, body mass index and lifestyle determiners were examined with regard to gender. Altogether, 333 students completed the anonymous questionnaire, their average age was 16.12. Their Body Mass Index (BMI) was used to estimate the prevalence of obesity. The association between BMI and lifestyle determiners was analysed. 63.8% of girls and 70.4% of boys exercise daily or several times a week. Girls love individual sports, while boys would rather choose team sports. More boys participate in competitive sports (26.2%) than girls (16.5%). Both genders’ biology marks are better than those of students who do no sport. 46.81% of girls and 27.59% of boys have been on a slimming diet, and a high percentage of girls were on a slimming diet, even those with a normal BMI. The results suggest that despite having five physical education (PE) lessons every week, students want to get more exercise. However, a lack of time and fatigue prevents them from doing so. Most children chose PE as their favourite subject, but out of all sporting venues it is at school that they like doing sport the least. Keywords: physical activity patterns, eating habits, physical education.

Five-year observation of the relationship between body mass index and glycated hemoglobin in children with Type 1 diabetes mellitus

Background: Poor metabolic control is a well-recognized risk factor for cardiovascular disease. However, the relationship between such factor as body weight and metabolic control in children with diabetes mellitus type 1 (DM1) is unclear. The aim of this study was to examine the relationships between body weight, age, metabolic control, sex, and form of insulin therapy in children with DM1.Methods: This was a retrospective study of children with DM1 treated at one diabetes center for a minimum of 5 years since diagnosis.Results: Median body mass index standard deviation score (BMI-SDS) increased annually (p = .0042) on average 0.08 ± 0.27 per year throughout the observation. As well HbA1c and daily dose insulin increased annually (p < .0001; p < .0001, respectively) on average by 0.43 ± 0.79 and by 0.13 ± 0.17 per year. Percentage of good metabolic control – HbA1c cut-off of 6.5% – gradually worsened in all patients over the 5 years, with a higher percentage of girls experiencing poor metabolic control (84.48% of girls vs. 77.87% of boys; p = .01895). No correlation between BMI-SDS and metabolic control (HbA1c) was found (R = 0.09, p = .60).Conclusions: Body weight appears to be more affected by non-diabetic factors (e.g. irregular eating and sedentary lifestyle) than by the clinical course of diabetes. Metabolic control and body weight must be maintained in all children with DM1 (males and females) to reduce their future risk of cardiovascular disease.

Comparison of uveitis in the course of juvenile idiopathic arthritis with isolated uveitis in children - own experiences.

ObjectivesUveitis and juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) relatively often coexist. Inflammatory changes in the anterior segment of the eye are the most common extra-articular symptom in children with JIA, and JIA is, in turn, the main systemic cause of anterior uveitis in children. The aim of our study was to compare the course of anterior uveitis accompanying JIA and isolated uveitis.Material and methodsWe analyzed 25 children with JIA and uveitis (group I) and 28 children with isolated uveitis (group II). The study population was retrospectively selected from the patients treated in our center in the years 1998–2016 through a search of the hospital database. All data were presented as descriptive statistics.ResultsIn group I there was a higher percentage of girls than in group II (64% vs. 50%) and uveitis occurred at a significantly younger age (8.7 years vs. 11.6). Patients from group I more often presented with immunological abnormalities (positive antinuclear antibodies or HLA-B27 antigen). The majority of children from group I developed uveitis prior to (44%) or simultaneously with (20%) arthritis. In patients who first presented with uveitis, arthritis appeared on average after 28 months (median 12 months). In children in whom arthritis developed first, uveitis appeared on average after 51 months (median 36 months). In some patients the time interval between the involvement of these two organs was as long as 9–10 years. Four children from group I and three from group II were qualified for biological treatment.ConclusionsThe results of our analysis indicate the need for constant cooperation between the pediatric rheumatologist and the ophthalmologist. Although the risk of uveitis in JIA decreases with the disease duration, in some cases this complication can develop after many years. Children with present antinuclear antibodies, at younger age and of female gender should be subject to particularly close observation.

Early Puberty, Friendship Group Characteristics, and Dating Abuse in US Girls.

The current study aimed to investigate the relationship between advanced pubertal development and adolescent dating abuse (ADA) and to test if this relationship is moderated by friendship group characteristics in a nationally representative sample of US girls. Data were drawn from wave 1 and 2 (1995-1996) of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health. The sample included 3870 girls aged 13 to 17 years, all of whom were in romantic and/or nonromantic sexual relationships. Relative pubertal development was measured as perceived physical development as compared with peers of the same age and race and age at menarche at wave 1. Participants reported at wave 2 whether they had experienced any verbal or physical abuse in their relationships. Friendship group characteristics included the percentage of boy friends, older friends, and friends' risk behavior level. Negative binomial regression analyses revealed an interaction between advanced pubertal development and percentage of boy friends on ADA victimization, adjusted for age, race, parents' marital status, household income, number of relationships, self-esteem, self-control, and antisocial behavior history. Advanced pubertal development was associated with more ADA victimization when girls' friendship groups comprised a higher percentage of boys. Findings highlight the importance of pubertal timing and friendship group characteristics to ADA victimization. Early pubertal development is a risk marker for ADA victimization, particularly when a higher percentage of girls' friends are boys. Pediatricians and adolescent health specialists should be sensitive to the elevated risk for ADA victimization in early-maturing girls.

Trial baseline characteristics of a cluster randomised controlled trial of a school-located obesity prevention programme; the Healthy Lifestyles Programme (HeLP) trial

BackgroundWe have developed a healthy lifestyles programme (HeLP) for primary school aged children (9–10 years), currently being evaluated in a definitive cluster randomised controlled trial. This paper descriptively presents the baseline characteristics of trial children (BMI, waist circumference, % body fat, diet and physical activity) by gender, cluster level socio-economic status, school size and time of recruitment into the trial.MethodsSchools were recruited from across the South West of England and allocated 1:1 to either intervention (HeLP) or control (usual practice) stratified by the proportion of children eligible for free school meals (FSM, <19%, ≥19%) and school size (one Year 5 class, >1 Year 5 class). The primary outcome is change in body mass index standard deviation score (BMI sds) at 24 months post-randomisation. Secondary outcomes are BMI sds at 18 months, waist circumference and percentage body fat sds at 18 and 24 months, proportion of children classified as underweight, overweight and obese at 18 and 24 months, physical activity (for a sub-sample) and food intake at 18 months.ResultsAt baseline 11.4% and 13.6% of children were categorised as overweight or obese respectively. A higher percentage of girls than boys (25.3% vs 24.8%) and children from schools in FSM category 2 (28.2% vs 23.2%) were overweight or obese. Children were consuming a mean (range) of 4.15 (0–13) energy dense snacks (EDS) and 3.23 (0–9) healthy snacks (HS) per day with children from schools in FSM category 2 consuming more EDS and negative food markers and less HS and positive food markers. Children spent an average 53.6 min per day (11.9 to 124.8) in MVPA and thirteen hours (779.3 min) per day (11 h to 15 h) doing less than ‘light’ intensity activity. Less than 5% of children achieved the Departments of Health’s recommendation of 60 min of MVPA every day.ConclusionWe have excellent completeness of baseline data for all measures and have achieved compliance to accelerometry not seen before in other large scale studies. Our anthropometric baseline data is representative of local and national data for children this age and reflects the gender and socio-economic variations expected of children this age in relation to physical activity and weight status.Trial registrationISRCTN15811706 (1/05/2012).

Health-related Quality of Life in Children and Adolescents with Psoriasis: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Studies demonstrating the negative impact of paediatric psoriasis on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) are accumulating, but little is known about moderators of HRQOL. The objectives of this review were to summarize studies on HRQOL in paediatric psoriasis and to explore the potential moderating influences of demographic and clinical variables. Searches were conducted by 2 independent researchers in PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and Scopus for papers published between 1995 (the date the first dermatology-specific HRQOL-instrument for children was introduced) and 2016. Eligible studies were required to report HRQOL data for children and/or adolescents with psoriasis (4-18 years) using validated HRQOL questionnaires. Seven-teen eligible studies (number of patients=1,185) were identified. Moderation analyses revealed that study samples with a higher percentage of girls were associated with better HRQOL (β = 0.19), while a higher mean age of onset (β = 0.83) and study quality (β = 0.28) were associated with lower HRQOL (all p<0.05). Several papers did not provide the information necessary for exploring between-study differences, thus the moderation analysis results should be interpreted with caution. In conclusion, children and adolescents with psoriasis experience moderate impairment of HRQOL. Certain demographic characteristics (e.g. sex) and clinical characteristics (e.g. age at onset) appear to moderate this impact.

Transition Rate Of Girls From Lower Primary To Upper Primary, Kajiado County

This study is on factors that influence the girls’ transition rate from lower primary to upper primary in public primary schools of Kajiado County, Kenya. Four study questions guided the study. Literature review focused on international calls on girl’s education among the pastoral communities and the girl’s education in Kenya and Africa at large. The study focused on the factors that influence girls’ education which include the socio-cultural factors, socio-economic factors, school based factors and early teenage pregnancies which include the flight of the girls due to the effects of HIV/AIDS and FGM. The study used the descriptive survey design. The target population for the study was 524 comprising of 14 head teachers and 510 class six girls from all the fourteen public primary schools in Kajiado County. The sample for the study was 14 head teachers, and 16% of the girls (82) in class six from the selected schools. Based on the findings the following conclusions were made: Early marriage was found to be the main cause of girls not graduating to the next higher level of education in public primary schools. Female genital mutilation (FGM) was the second contributing factor to low transition rate of girls. Results on physical facilities had mixed reactions. Majority of the girls (72.5%) belief that lack of physical facilities had no influence on them being or not being in school. This meant that whether the physical facilities are available or not the girls will still continue with their education. Early pregnancies represented by 88.4% most likely to lead to girls leaving school before completing the entire primary cycle. Only 8.7% of the respondents indicated that early pregnancy had no influence on girls being or not being in school. It was found that there was high percentage of girls out of school due to lack of female teachers in their school to act as role models. The study also established that most of the girls from poor households go through FGM as compared to those from rich households, in which case FGM will lead to early pregnancies hence the girl leaving school.

What Makes a Difference for Disadvantaged Girls? Investigating the Interplay between Group Composition and Positive Youth Development in Sport

It has been suggested that group composition can influence the experiences of individual group members in social programmes (Weiss, 1998). The purpose of the present study was to examine the relationship between peer group composition in sports programmes and positive youth development (PYD) in disadvantaged girls, as well as to determine whether it was moderated by personal characteristics. Two hundred young women aged between 10 and 24 completed a questionnaire including, among others, the “Youth Experience Survey for Sport” (YES-S) (MacDonald, Côté, Eys, &amp;amp; Deakin, 2012) and questions regarding participants’ socio-economic characteristics (i.e., nationality, education, family situation). Multilevel regression analyses were performed to take into account the hierarchical data structure. At the group level, a higher percentage of girls from a low educational track and with a migration background predicted greater PYD, as indicated by higher levels of personal and social skills, cognitive skills and goal setting. Results showed interaction effects between the respondents’ family structures on the participant and team levels. The overall statistical models for the different developmental domains accounted for variance ranging from 14.7% (personal and social skills) to 30.3% (cognitive skills). Results indicated that the extent to which disadvantaged girls derive benefits from their participation in sport also depends on the group composition. The interaction effects between the group composition and individual characteristics suggest that when girls participate in a group of similar peers, those from non-intact families will derive more benefits than their counterparts from intact families.

Merkmale von Kindern und Jugendlichen mit Geschlechtsdysphorie in der Hamburger Spezialsprechstunde

Given the increasing demand for counselling in gender dysphoria in childhood in Germany, there is a definite need for empirical data on characteristics and developmental trajectories of this clinical group. This study aimed to provide a first overview by assessing demographic characteristics and developmental trajectories of a group of gender variant boys and girls referred to the specialised Gender Identity Clinic in Hamburg. Data were extracted from medical charts, transcribed and analysed using qualitative content analysis methods. Categories were set up by inductive-deductive reasoning based on the patients' parents' and clinicians' information in the files. Between 2006 and 2010, 45 gender variant children and adolescents were seen by clinicians; 88.9% (n = 40) of these were diagnosed with gender identity disorder (ICD-10). Within this group, the referral rates for girls were higher than for boys (1:1.5). Gender dysphoric girls were on average older than the boys and a higher percentage of girls was referred to the clinic at the beginning of adolescence (> 12 years of age). At the same time, more girls reported an early onset age. More girls made statements about their (same-sex) sexual orientation during adolescence and wishes for gender confirming medical interventions. More girls than boys revealed self-mutilation in the past or present as well as suicidal thoughts and/or attempts. Results indicate that the presentation of clinically referred gender dysphoric girls differs from the characteristics boys present in Germany; especially with respect to the most salient age differences. Therefore, these two groups require different awareness and individual treatment approaches.

The Effect of Having Classmates with Emotional and Behavioral Disorders and the Protective Nature of Peer Gender

ABSTRACTThe authors explored how classroom gender composition moderated the relationship between having classmates with emotional and behavioral disorders (EBD) and peers’ academic achievement in both kindergarten and Grade 1 classrooms. Given the behavioral and social-cognitive styles of girls, it was hypothesized that classrooms with a higher percentage of girls would moderate (or reduce) the academic consequences associated with exposure to children with EBD. To address this hypothesis, this study relied on applying quasi-experimental methods to a nationally representative data set (i.e., Early Childhood Longitudinal Study–Kindergarten Class) of U.S. elementary school students. Consistent with prior research, the findings revealed that exposure to a classmate with EBD resulted in lower reading and mathematics scores for classmates. However, classrooms with a higher percentage of girls were found to protect other students’ academic achievement when in the presence of an EBD classmate. The findings presented in this study can be used to challenge educators and policy makers to develop support classroom environments for all students. Educational implications are discussed.