Child Abuse Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Child Abuse, including details on family violence, examinations, long-term effects, psychiatrics disorders.

Prior victimization and sexual and contraceptive self-efficacy among adolescent females under child protective services care.

Hovsepian SL, Blais M, Manseau H, Otis J, Girard ME

Département de médecine sociale et préventive, Ecole de santé publique, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. sarine.lory.hovsepian@umontreal.ca.

Adolescent females under Child Protective Services care in Quebec, Canada (n = 328) completed a questionnaire designed to explore associations between prior victimization (childhood sexual abuse and four forms of dating violence) and four dimensions of sexual and contraceptive self-efficacy. Five MANCOVAs were performed. In each model, a victimization index served as the independent variable, four Contraceptive Self-Efficacy subscales as dependant variables, and age, age at first sexual intercourse, and lifetime number of sexual partners as covariates. Childhood sexual abuse was negatively associated with adolescent's perceived ability to communicate about her sexuality and contraceptive practices. Sexual coercion in dating relationships was negatively associated with the adolescent's perceived ability to communicate about her sexuality and contraception, her perceived control over her sexual activity, and her perceived control over her use of contraceptives in passionate situations. Sexual victimization was found to impair important aspects of adolescent females' sexual and contraceptive self-efficacy.

Published 4 February 2010 in Health Educ Behav, 37(1): 65-83.
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Articles on Child Abuse published 4 February 2010:

Orthopaedic aspects of paediatric non-accidental injury.   J Bone Joint Surg Br, 92(2): 189-95.

Non-accidental injury (NAI) in children includes orthopaedic trauma throughout the skeleton. Fractures with soft-tissue injuries constitute the majority of manifestations of physical abuse in children. Fracture and injury patterns vary with age and development, and NAI is intrinsically related to the mobility of the child. No fracture in isolation is pathognomonic of NAI, but specific abuse-related injuries include multiple fractures, particularly at various stages of healing, metaphyseal ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Comparing Revictimization in Two Groups of Marginalized Women.   J Interpers Violence.

This study examines physical and sexual revictimization in a random sample of incarcerated and poor, urban, nonincarcerated women using multiple measures of physical and sexual child abuse. Researchers used hierarchical logistic regression to compare rates of revictimization and the strength of the association between child abuse and adult victimization using two measures of child physical abuse and four measures of child sexual abuse. Incarcerated women had higher rates of revictimization than ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Chlamydia trachomatis infection in children: Do not forget perinatal acquisition A case report of a 7-year old girl, C. trachomatis infected, presumed sexually assaulted.   J Forensic Leg Med, 17(2): 96-98.

A 7-year old girl suspected of having been sexually abused owing to the presence of anal condyloma was found to be infected by Chlamydia trachomatis. Microbiological analysis and anamnesis were consistent with the infection having been acquired at birth. This case confirms that untreated infection acquired at birth can persist for months or years and highlights the value of examining those involved in the suspicion of sexual abuse of the child. [Abstract] [Full-text]

Articles on Child Abuse published 3 February 2010:

Factors associated with binge eating disorder in pregnancy.   Int J Eat Disord.

OBJECTIVE:: To identify factors associated with incidence and course of broadly defined binge eating disorder (BED) in pregnancy. METHOD:: As a part of the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study (MoBa), 45,644 women completed a questionnaire at approximately 18 weeks of gestation. RESULTS:: Incidence of BED was significantly associated with lifetime sexual abuse, lifetime physical abuse, lifetime major depression, symptoms of anxiety and depression, low life satisfaction, low self-esteem, low ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

The Course of Inattention and Hyperactivity/Impulsivity Symptoms After Foster Placement.   Pediatrics.

Background: It is largely unknown whether symptoms of inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity of foster children decline over time after placement and what the role of the quality and stability of the foster placement is on the course of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptom trajectories. Longitudinal studies of normative trajectories of symptom types in nonreferred children may assist in appropriately diagnosing ADHD and designing the clinical treatment for foster children. ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Correlates of Early versus Later Initiation into Sex Work in Two Mexico-U.S. Border Cities.   J Adolesc Health, 46(1): 37-44.

PURPOSE: To examine correlates of early initiation into sex work in two Mexico-U.S. border cities. METHODS: Female sex workers (FSWs) >/=18 years without known HIV infection living in Tijuana and Ciudad Juarez who had recent unprotected sex with clients underwent baseline interviews. Correlates of initiation into sex work before age 18 were identified with logistic regression. RESULTS: Of 920 FSWs interviewed in Tijuana (N=474) and Ciudad Juarez (N=446), 9.8% (N=90) were early initiators ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

A brief primary care intervention helps parents develop plans to discipline.   Pediatrics, 125(2): e242-9.

OBJECTIVE: The objective was to determine if a primary care intervention can help caregivers develop appropriate methods of discipline. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A randomized, controlled trial was conducted in a pediatric primary care clinic. Consecutive English- or Spanish-speaking caregivers of 1- to 5-year-old children were randomly assigned (1:1 ratio) at triage. Members of the intervention group (n = 130) were instructed (ie, required) to view at least 4 strategies of their choosing for ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Incidence of Fractures Among Children With Burns With Concern Regarding Abuse.   Pediatrics, 125(2): e295-e299.

OBJECTIVE: Consensus recommendations state that a radiographic skeletal survey is mandatory for all children <2 years of age with concern for physical abuse. It has been suggested that patients with burns may represent a special subgroup at lower risk for occult fractures, compared with other abused children. Our objective was to determine the prevalence of fractures in children referred for subspecialty abuse evaluations because of burns. METHODS: We performed retrospective analyses of data ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

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