Children's Health Matters is a column that shares the latest reporting, research, commentary and ideas on pediatric health and child development; prevention models to reduce health disparities for ill children and children born into poverty; links between maternal and children’s health; and broader trends in children's health and well-being.
Given that one in four children in this country has a chronic condition, the human costs of such negligence are high.
Before she began her transition three years ago, Dallas Ducar struggled with depression, anxiety, substance abuse and the profoundly unsettling sensation “that things did not feel real.”
A January audit found that Portland Public Schools – the largest district in the state – spends more per pupil than similar districts across the state, yet systematically fails students of color and students from poorer homes.
In one incident, a girl with a mental health diagnosis was pepper-sprayed in the groin, then left to use toilet water to relieve her pain.
Arkansas has a child mortality rate far higher than the national average. Is the state doing enough to prevent these deaths?
“Without flavors like mango or mint, I think most teens would lose interest in vaping and not continue after an initial try," one researcher said.
Active shooter drills have consequences and so does the influx of school resource officers – especially in urban schools.
Journalists should find out whether schools near them are making even a meaningful effort to encourage better eating among their students. Here are some ideas to get started.
Prevention is always king, but what does the evidence say about the best way to treat kids who have already suffered abuse?
Incarcerating parents can have a major mental health impact on the children left behind and lead to risky behaviors, even as those kids become adults.
