The sexually abused battered child

Article Abstract:

Increased awareness of physical abuse of children has been documented during the last 30 years, but related sexual abuse in these children has just begun to be acknowledged. From 1985 to 1988, 2,883 children were referred to one hospital for suspected child abuse, and details are available on the cases of 1,588 children. Physical abuse was diagnosed in 769 and sexual abuse in 949 children, and after further review, 130 children showed signs of both physical and sexual abuse. In this last group, there were 77 girls and 53 boys, whose average ages were 5.7 and 6.8 years, respectively. The types of physical injuries were fractures (six cases), bruises (110 cases), scratches (38 cases), burns (22 cases) and bites (two cases). A majority of these injuries were identified around the genitalia, lower body, thighs and buttocks, which could imply sexual aggression. Six case histories and the deaths of four children are described to illustrate patterns of physical and sexual abuse. The identity of the abuser was frequently the father figure, which included the natural father, live-in boyfriend, stepfather or foster father; other abusers were the mother figure, brothers, neighbors or baby sitters. These results indicate that one of every six physically abused children has been sexually abused, and one of every seven sexually abused children has also been physically (non-sexually) abused. In addition, the findings indicate that social workers should suspect sexual abuse when investigating cases of physical abuse. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Reports, Statistics, Child abuse, Abused children, Child sexual abuse

---

Height reduction in 539 tall girls treated with three different doses of ethinyloestradiol

Article Abstract:

The use of estrogen to reduce excessive growth in stature in adolescent girls began in 1956. Since then, several studies have reported that ethinylestradiol is effective in reducing the final height reached by adolescent girls. Since taking estrogen supplements can have serious adverse effects, it is important to use the lowest dose possible. This article reports on a study designed to evaluate the effectiveness of three different doses of ethinylestradiol in reducing the final height of 539 adolescent girls who were predicted to be over six feet tall when they were finished growing. Two hundred sixty-three girls were treated with 0.5 milligrams per day (mg/d) for an average of two years (group 1), 178 were treated with 0.25 mg/d for an average of 1.9 years (group 2), and 98 were treated with 0.1 mg/d for an average of 1.6 years. Progestogen was given for the first 10 days of every month to maintain normal menstrual cycles. The total average reduction in final height was 5.9 centimeters (cm), 5.3 cm and 4.4 cm for groups 1, 2 and 3, respectively. Expressed on a yearly basis, the reduction in height was 3.0, 3.1 and 2.9 cm per year for the three groups. It is concluded that 0.1 mg of ethinylestradiol administered on a daily basis for 20 months is sufficient to reduce final height in adolescent girls. It is recommended that treatment be initiated at a bone age of 12 years. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Prevention, Teenage girls, Growth, Stature, Tall, Tall stature

---

Growth evaluation: parent and child specific height standards

Article Abstract:

A study was conducted of the growth and maturation of 544 boys and 519 girls to determine the influence of parental height on the growth of their children. Two equations, formulated to improve the accuracy of estimating height, are based on (1) parental heights to indicate parent-specific mean standard deviation scores and (2) parents' heights and the child's height at one year to indicate the expected standard deviation score for height. Variation in the heights of parents accounted for 20 percent of the variation during prepuberty and 30 to 46 percent of the variation in final heights of children, but use of the child's height at one year could explain up to 50 percent of the variation. These equations were not developed with the intent of calculating final height, but to increase the chance that abnormal growth in children might be recognized easier. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Methods, Evaluation, Measurement, Anthropometry, Human growth, Human development

Similar abstracts:

• Abstracts: The plain abdominal roentgenogram in the management of encopresis. Management of encopresis and the parents' role
• Abstracts: Segmental dilatation of the small bowel: report of three cases and literature review. Hemoptysis: CT-bronchoscopic correlations in 58 cases
• Abstracts: The unfolding of therapeutic radiology. New therapeutic strategies for patients with gastrointestinal malignancies using biochemical modulation of fluorouracil
• Abstracts: Copper status and urinary and salivary copper in young men at three levels of dietary copper. Dietary iron and recovery from peritonitis in guinea pigs
• Abstracts: Multifetal pregnancy reduction and disposal of untransplanted embryos in contemporary Jewish law and ethics. Cervical cancer in Jewish women

This website is not affiliated with document authors or copyright owners. This page is provided for informational purposes only. Unintentional errors are possible.