Tag: Children

Pregnant women's experiences of discrimination and acculturation can impact the brain circuitry of their infants, independent of general stress and depression, according to a recent study by Yale and Columbia University. The research, published in Neuropsychopharmacology, examined 165 pregnant individuals and conducted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) on 38 infants after birth. The findings suggest that discrimination and acculturation have distinct effects on brain connectivity, particularly weakening connectivity between the amygdala and prefrontal cortex in infants whose parents experienced discrimination during pregnancy.

Nearly 89,000 women and girls were intentionally killed (femicide) in 2022, marking the highest yearly number in the past two decades. This alarming figure comes despite an overall drop in homicides, said a new research brief from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and UN Women.

As China grapples with the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, a new threat has emerged in the form of a mysterious pneumonia outbreak (respiratory illness) sweeping through educational institutions. This development, reminiscent of the early stages of the COVID-19 crisis, has led to a surge in hospital admissions, prompting health officials to address the situation.

Fatherhood stands as a monumental milestone in a man's life, triggering a seismic shift in perspective. This transformative journey extends far beyond the surface of parenthood, impacting personal development in profound ways.

Extreme weather events, damaged school infrastructure threatens girls' access to quality education with repercussions extending beyond immediate schooling challenges, said a new report from Plan International. The latest report, “Climate Change and Girls’ Education: Barriers, Gender Norms and Pathways to Resilience,” shows the dire consequences of the climate crisis on girls’ education in West Africa, South and Central America, the Caribbean, and Southeast Asia.

The time children spend watching television or playing computer games (screen time) has measurable and long-term effects on their brain function. Published in the peer-reviewed journal Early Education and Development, the analysis of 33 studies involving over 30,000 participants under the age of 12 demonstrates both negative and some positive impacts on brain development.

WHO Launches Landmark Guideline to Combat Acute Malnutrition The World Health Organization (WHO) has taken a significant step in the global fight against acute malnutrition in children under 5 by unveiling a groundbreaking guideline on the prevention and management of wasting and nutritional edema (acute malnutrition). The launch addresses the persistent challenge of acute malnutrition, impacting millions of children globally and hindering progress toward Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) related to malnutrition elimination by 2030.

In recent years, an alarming trend has emerged in the United States. Since 2020, firearms have become the leading cause of death among children and teenagers, surpassing even car accidents, according to data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In 2022, more than 4,500 young lives were lost to firearm injuries. But the tragedy doesn't stop there; the ripple effects of these incidents have far-reaching consequences on survivors and their families, as revealed in a recent study published in the November issue of Health Affairs.

A concerning global health issue has emerged as common childhood infections are becoming increasingly resistant to antibiotics. A study led by the University of Sydney has unveiled high rates of bacterial resistance to antibiotics commonly prescribed for children and babies, rendering these drugs ineffective in many parts of the world.

Amid ongoing Israeli bombardment, Gaza has tragically become a "graveyard" for children. UN humanitarian agencies report that thousands of children have lost their lives, and more than a million people are facing critical shortages of essential supplies, leaving a lifetime of trauma in their wake.