Trends and implications of women in pediatrics

Article Abstract:

Since the 1950s there has been a large increase in the number of women in the work force. In 1960 women held 5.5 percent of the MD degrees, but by 1987 they held 36 percent. In 1974, 24 percent of the physicians taking the pediatric specialty board examinations were women; in 1987, 50 percent. A survey of women entering pediatrics showed the two top motivators were working with children and the emotional challenge; the lowest were income and prestige. Statistics are presented regarding women in residency programs, including marital status, age of childbearing, and child care needs. Residency training programs need to provide education first and then clinical services. A flexible attitude is helpful in determining the best policy for maternity leave. There appears to be a great need for counseling of residents regarding outside responsibilities. Statistics are presented regarding female pediatricians in practice. These include choice of working arrangement, equity in salary, child care, hours worked and career interruptions. Implications for women pediatricians concerning personal and home life are discussed, including various combinations and options. The need for good male role models in medicine is noted. It is concluded that directors of pediatric residency programs need to allow their female physicians more flexibility in order to carry out their multiple roles as pediatricians, wives and mothers. Better and more affordable day care should be a national priority. Such social inequities have occurred because the rules of work were set up in a different era. It is especially important in this case to change those rules, rather than requiring those adversely affected by them to adapt. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Statistics, Demographic aspects, Women physicians, Pediatricians

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Women in medicine: fantasies, dreams, myths, and realities

Article Abstract:

When little girls talk about becoming doctors they are considered to be fantasizing; when a little boy does the same he is considered to be dreaming of a possibility. Today there is an increase in women in the work force and an increase in women in medicine; 37 percent of those entering medical school in 1987 were women. There was a great variability in this percentage (11 to 60 percent) depending upon the area of the country, with the south and north central medical schools consistently having a lower percentage of women. Some of the myths and realities of women in medicine are explored in this article. There is a myth held by some that thinking and reasoning are specific to a particular sex. There is little difference in performance or attrition in medical school between men and women. Women tend to choose different specialties than men. Women in medicine do not make as much money as men, they usually have more debt when they leave medical school and are less likely to be self-employed. Only about two thirds of all female physicians have children (compared with 90 percent of male physicians); however, 85 to 90 percent of men and women graduating from medical school say they want to have children. Women in academic medicine have not achieved the same success as men. There is a severe lack of female physicians in leadership roles in medicine. When gender stereotyping disappears, the fantasy of the young girl will change to the dream with possibilities. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Social aspects, Economic aspects, Women in medicine

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Long-term effectiveness of depot gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogue in the treatment of children with central precocious puberty

Article Abstract:

Central precocious puberty (CPP) has been successfully treated with Lupron Depot without any significant side effects. After treatment ended, puberty proceeded normally. CPP causes puberty to begin prematurely. Ten girls, age three to eight, who were diagnosed with gonadotropin-releasing hormone-dependent CPP were treated with monthly doses of Lupron Depot. These monthly doses effectively slowed or stopped puberty as measured by responses of luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone to gonadorelin testing. The patients received the injections for between 1.5 and 3.5 years. The effect on the fertility of patients has not yet been studied.

Evaluation, Product/Service Evaluation, Drug therapy, Leuprolide, Precocious puberty, Lupron Depot (Medication)

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