Children, television and violence]

The relationships between children and television are a source of heated debate. Several studies, mainly conducted in North America, have found a correlation between television violence viewing and aggressive behavior, preadolescents appearing as the most vulnerable. However, in France opinions are more nuanced and one generally considers that television-induced violence in children mainly depends upon individual and educative socio-familial factors.     

Exposure to violence and victimization, depression, substance use, and the use of violence by young adolescents

OBJECTIVE: To examine the relationships among exposure to violence; tobacco, alcohol, and other substance use; depression; church attendance; and the use of violence among very young adolescents. METHODS: An 86-item confidential questionnaire was administered to 722 sixth grade students (mean age = 11.9+/-0.8 years) attending 4 middle schools serving neighborhoods in and around public housing. RESULTS: Boys had a higher mean violence scale score than girls (P < or =.0001), and students living in public housing had higher violence scale scores than other students (P< or =.0001). Self-reported use of violence was significantly associated with exposure to violence (r =.45); age (r =.28); frequency of church attendance (r = -.14); depression (r =.28); the probability of being alive at age 25 (r = -.09); the frequency of use of cigarettes (r =.39), alcohol (r =.37), and multiple substances (r =.38); and interest in a gang (r =.37). When all of these variables were analyzed with multiple linear regression, multiple substance use, exposure to violence, interest in a gang, male gender, cigarette smoking, and depression level accounted for 49.7% of the variation in the use of violence scale. CONCLUSION: Recent multiple substance use and lifetime exposure to violence and victimization were the strongest correlates with the frequency that these youth reported using violence and carrying weapons.     

Gender, power, and violence in the family

Attributions for parent-child relationship outcomes were assessed as a function of childhood maltreatment history. In Study 1, the attributions of maltreated children were compared with those of nonmaltreated children from a similar background. Maltreated girls (but not boys) werefound to be more likely than nonmaltreated girls to attribute lower power or control to self than to parents. Effects of maltreatment on children's attributions were found for physical but not sexual abuse. In Study 2, the attributions of parents with a history of abuse as children were compared with those of parents who had not been abused. Women (but no men) with a history of abuse attributed less power or control to self than to children. Implications are drawn for gender differences in the role of biased attributions as a consequence of physical abuse.     

Adolescent violence exposure, gender issues and impact

Youth violence is a growing problem worldwide. Research on adolescent violence in India is limited. Fifteen hundred high school students were investigated to study the prevalence and demographic characteristics of witnesses, victims and perpetrators of violence and to see the impact of violence exposure on their psychosocial adjustments. Sixty nine percent of students had witnessed violence in real life and 28% were of serious nature. Media violence exposure was universal. The prevalence of victims and perpetrators was 27% and 13% respectively. Bullying was prevalent. Male sex was the most important predictive risk factor for witnessing and perpetrating violence (P < or = 0.001). Victims were predominantly females. Those having exposure to violence had poorer school performance and adjustment scores (P < or = 0.05). Thus violence exposure is prevalent even in the lives of Indian adolescents and gender differences exist. Its impact on their psychosocial adjustments is detrimental. Early identification and corrective interventions of these adolescents is vital.     

Interpersonal violence, aggression, and antisocial behaviours in the adolescents

Violence is a growing problem among adolescents all over the world. Exposure to violence can have lasting and pervasive effects on an adolescent’s mental and physical health, general well-being, and ability to become a productive adult. Research on adolescent violence in India and Southeast Asia is limited; very little is written in clinical journals. Addressing adolescent violence is currently a low priority for medical practitioners because disease, poverty, and infant maternal health pose more immediate threats to morbidity and mortality in Asia. Physicians, especially in India, have a unique opportunity to take preventative actions now, to stem the tide of morbidity and mortality from gun violence that plagues the United States. Adolescents in Asia are at greatest risk for violence exposure in their homes. Pediatricians who are proactive and educate their patients, families, and the community can help reduce or prevent morbidity and mortality resulting from violence in adolescents.     

Patterns of violence in Karachi, Pakistan

OBJECTIVES: Government reports on violence in developing countries are almost universally based upon police data, which are typically incomplete and unreliable. Violence in Karachi was evaluated using ambulance service, not police, records. SETTING: Karachi, Pakistan. METHODOLOGY: The study was based on a case series of persons suffering from intentional injuries and transported by Edhi, the largest emergency service in Karachi, between October 1993 and January 1996. Main outcome variables were injury and death rates. RESULTS: Edhi Ambulance Service transported 4,091 intentionally injured persons during the 29 month period from October 1993 to January 1996. Ninety five per cent (n=3,864) were males; 74% (n=2,823) were 20 to 40 years of age, and 2,400 (58%) died before reaching the hospital. Firearms were the most common mode of injury (n=3,396, 83%). Forty six per cent (n= 1,828) of violent injuries occurred in four neighborhoods of Karachi--22% in Korangi (n= 884) and 8% each in Orangi (n=337), Malir Colony (n=307), and Nazimabad (n=300). On the 32 days when a political strike was called, more people were injured (mean = 10.4 v 5.0 persons, p=0.01) and killed (mean 6.6 v 3.9 persons, p<0.01) compared with days without a political strike. CONCLUSION: Violence is a major public health problem in Karachi, affecting predominantly wage earners. At least some of the violence is rooted within the political system. Detailed study of the causes of violence that explains the role that political and ethnic tensions play, may suggest strategies to lessen the toll of violence.     

A case of hypertrophic protein losing gastropathy

A 3 1/2 year old boy presented with a history of vomiting and generalized oedema. Biochemically proven protein losing enteropathy was associated with huge gastric fundal rugae on barium examination. Gastroscopy confirmed the barium findings but biopsy material demonstrated normal mucosa. The condition regressed on a high protein diet. Cytomegalovirus (CMV) was found in the urine after the illness had subsided.     

Dying is no accident. Adolescents, violence, and intentional injury

Violence and its consequences are a major issue to be addressed by the health care community. The magnitude and characteristics of the problem cry out for new, creative approaches and provide for some insight into the direction that needs to be taken. Some of the components related to violence are societal in scope and will require long-term strategies well beyond the immediate realm of the health care system. Others provide direction that more clearly present a role for health providers and public health planners. Although there will be no easy answers or solutions to this problem, it is essential that support be developed for experimental efforts. The health community cannot ignore this problem and can in fact make a real contribution to its resolution through prevention, treatment, and research.     

Dating violence, sexual assault, and suicide attempts among urban teenagers

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the relationship between dating violence, sexual assault, and suicide attempts among urban adolescents. DESIGN: Secondary analysis of the 2005 New York City Youth Risk Behavior Survey. SETTING: Eighty-seven New York City public high schools. PARTICIPANTS: Representative population-based sample of 8080 students, 14 years and older. MAIN EXPOSURES: Dating violence in the past year and lifetime history of sexual assault. OUTCOME MEASURE: One or more suicide attempts in the past year. RESULTS: Respondents were 50.0% female and primarily black (36.0%) or Hispanic (40.1%). In the past year, 11.7% of females and 7.2% of males reported 1 or more suicide attempts. Lifetime history of sexual assault was reported by 9.6% of females and 5.4% of males. Dating violence in the past year was reported by 10.6% of females and 9.5% of males. In multivariate models, controlling for persistent sadness, sexual orientation, and significant risk behaviors, recent dating violence (odds ratio, 1.61; 95% confidence interval, 1.05-2.47) was associated with suicide attempts in adolescent girls, while lifetime history of sexual assault (odds ratio, 3.86; 95% confidence interval, 2.11-7.06) was associated with suicide attempts in adolescent boys. CONCLUSIONS: In this population of urban youth, recent dating violence among females and lifetime history of sexual assault among males were significantly associated with suicide attempts. Clinicians and educators should be trained to routinely screen adolescents for violence victimization and should have a low threshold for referring these at-risk teenagers for mental health services.     

Adolescent female sex workers: invisibility, violence and HIV

A large number of female sex workers are children. Multiple studies demonstrate that up to 40% of women in prostitution started this work prior to age 18. In studies across India, Nepal, Thailand and Canada, young age at entry to sex work has been found to heighten vulnerability to physical and sexual violence victimisation in the context of prostitution, and relates to a two to fourfold increase in HIV infection. Although HIV risk reduction among adult female sex workers has been a major focus of HIV prevention efforts across the globe, no public health interventions, to date, have addressed the increased hazards and HIV risk faced by adolescent female sex workers. Beyond the structural barriers that limit access to this vulnerable group, historical tensions between HIV prevention and child protection agencies must be overcome in order to develop effective strategies to address this large scale yet little recognised human rights and HIV-related crisis.