ACEs and mental health problems as suicidality predictors in Mexican adolescents

BACKGROUND

Various factors, including mental health comorbidity, family dysfunction, interpersonal violence, and community and social violence, cause suicidal behavior. Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) encompass these risk factors and are correlated with mental health problems and suicidal behavior in Mexican adolescents.

METHODS

A survey was conducted among Mexican school-aged adolescents to measure ACEs, MHP symptoms, and suicidal behavior. A binary logistic regression was used to examine the relationship between these variables. The study was conducted with IRB approval, and all participants provided informed consent. Those at risk of suicide were referred for online psychological care.

RESULTS

7325 adolescents participated; 60 % were women, with an average age of 16 years (SD + 1), 87 % of the participants reported at least one ACE, 13 % symptoms of at least one MHP and 10 % suicidal behavior. MHP predictors of suicidal behavior were: conduct problems (OR = 5.67), symptoms of depression (OR = 3.27), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OR = 2.11), somatic problems (OR = 1.98), and attention deficit (OR = 1.69). EAI predictors were: live sexual violence (OR = 2.53), physical violence (OR = 2.21), negligence (OR = 2.05), bullying (OR = 2.10), and a family member with a mental health diagnosis (OR = 1.35). The cumulative effect of ACEs and MHP significantly increased the risk (OR = 78.08).

CONCLUSIONS

5 ACEs and 4 MHP were associated with suicidal behavior; their cumulative effect increased the risk to 78 times.

ACE-IQ extended version validation and ACE's frequency in Mexican adolescents

BACKGROUND

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) may have short, middle, and long-term consequences on people's development and physical and mental health. There is a need for information on this subject in low- and middle-income countries and a need to reduce recall bias in ACEs research worldwide.

OBJECTIVE

Hence our objectives were to translate, adapt and validate the Adverse Childhood Experiences extended version and to determine ACEs frequencies in a sample of Mexican adolescents.

PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING

A convenience sample of 5835 schooled Mexican adolescents (age: M = 16.13, SD = 1.32; 61.01 % females) from 20 states in Mexico completed a survey.

METHOD

A cross-sectional study was conducted with an extended version of the ACE-International Questionnaire (ACE-IQ), which assesses 23 ACEs organized into five categories: situations that cause household dysfunction, exposure to violence, violence from parents or guardians, interpersonal violence, and sociodemographic context.

RESULTS

Evidence of construct validity and reliability of the questionnaire was obtained, and 16 ACEs were included in the final ACE-IQ version. 90 % of adolescents had one or more ACEs. Neglect was the most experienced ACE reported by 73.30 % of the participants, with no significant difference by age, sex, or geographic region.

CONCLUSION

ACE-IQ questionnaire is a reliable and valid instrument to recommend its use for generating information on ACEs in studies on Mexican adolescents. The results on the frequency of ACEs revealed that 90 % of this schooled Mexican adolescent sample had experienced one or more ACEs, and about a third had experienced six or more.

Abordaje de la violencia sexual infantil: un llamado a la acción para los profesionales de América Latina

El objetivo de esta comunicación es delinear los elementos clave de la capacitación en violencia sexual infantil (VSI) para profesionales de la salud en diferentes disciplinas medicina, psicología, odontología, enfermería, trabajo social, nutrición, fisioterapia, terapia ocupacional, química, bioquímica y obstetricia incluidas las parteras, entre otras y el desarrollo de protocolos de atención con base en las prácticas basadas en evidencia, así como proporcionar recursos que permitan optimizar ambos procesos. La capacitación sobre la violencia sexual hacia niñas, niños y adolescentes (NNA) es esencial para enfrentar este gran desafío en América Latina y permitir al personal de salud cumplir su función en defensa de la seguridad y el bienestar de NNA. El desarrollo de protocolos ayuda al personal de salud a definir las funciones y responsabilidades de los miembros del personal, resumir los posibles indicadores de VSI y describir las estrategias para identificar y abordar mejor las necesidades de salud y seguridad del paciente y su familia, por lo que deben incluir el enfoque informado sobre el trauma. El trabajo futuro debe centrarse en desarrollar y evaluar estrategias nuevas para aumentar la capacidad del sector de la salud para atender a los NNA que experimentan VSI y optimizar las formas de capacitar al personal. Apunta, también, a mejorar la generación de investigación y evidencia sobre la epidemiología y atención de la VSI en América Latina, incluidos los niños y adolescentes varones, grupos minoritarios y de atención prioritaria (p. ej. NNA migrantes, con discapacidad, en situación de calle, privados de la libertad, pertenecientes a comunidades indígenas y a la comunidad LGBTIQ+).

ISPCAN Child Abuse Screening Tool for Children (ICAST-C): Translation and adaptation to Mexican Spanish, and psychometric properties tested in Mexico City adolescents

BACKGROUND

Research using the IPSCAN Child Abuse Screening Tool for Children (ICAST-C), has provided ample evidence of the magnitude of violence against children. Knowledge about its psychometric characteristics and validity is limited. Hence, our objective was to translate and culturally adapt the ICAST-C in adolescents from Mexico City and determine its psychometric properties.

PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING

To determine the psychometric properties of the instrument 723 adolescents between 11 and 18 years of age from 9 public secondary schools in Mexico City participated.

METHODS

The study was carried out in two phases: 1) translation and adaptation of the instrument (in 5 steps) and 2) pilot evaluation of the psychometric properties. Total and factor reliabilities were determined, Pearson correlation was used for temporal stability while construct validity was determined by Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA), and final adequacy of the items eliminated by the CFA.

RESULTS

We developed the culturally relevant Mexican Spanish version of the ICAST-C. The CFA confirmed the six-factor structure hypothesis. To improve the original model we eliminated ten items, the final model showed good global fit indices (χ2(1310) = 2207.68, p < .01, χ2/df = 1.68; CFI =0.95; RMSEA = 0.02 [CI95% 0.02-0.03]; SRMR = 0.08). Total and factor reliabilities were adequate (Alpha = 0.79-0.92, r = 0.52-0.75), except for the non-violent discipline factor (Alpha = 0.59, r = 0.38).

CONCLUSIONS

While these data suggest that this version of the ICAST-C is valid and reliable for adolescents in Mexico City public secondary schools, further research should evaluate the psychometric properties in a national sample.

Pediatric Abusive Head Trauma: Multicentric Experience in Mexico

Abusive head trauma (AHT) is one of the most severe forms of child abuse due to its morbidity and mortality. However, AHT is still misdiagnosed in developing countries because of its nonspecific clinical picture and limited knowledge of it on the part of physicians. The aim of this study was to describe some characteristics of children with AHT, their families, and caregivers, as well as the clinical data that could serve as signs for its suspicion and the medical-legal resolution of the cases. Children suspect with AHT in emergency rooms in three Mexican hospitals were included after obtaining informed consent from the parents. All information was obtained from the parents by means of a questionnaire and from different clinical and radiological evaluations of the clinical records of the patients. 15 children, with a median age of 5 months and predominantly males (73.33%), were included in the study. 66% reported a history of irritability periods, and most of the patients (73.33%) had more than one habitual caregiver. The diagnosis of AHT was suspected in only 33.33% on admission in the Emergency Services. Acute symptomatology was present in 53.33%, while less severe symptoms were reported in the rest. Special attention should be paid on babies with history of irritable periods. When a child who is previously healthy and suddenly presents with a seizure or cardiorespiratory dysfunction or brought to the hospital dead, the diagnosis of AHT should be considered as a priority.

Adverse childhood experiences. Knowledge and use by pediatrics residents

INTRODUCTION

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) have been associated with the acquisition of risk behaviors and development of chronic and mental diseases since adolescence and in adult life.

OBJECTIVE

To identify the knowledge and the frequency pediatrics residents ask about ACEs with.

METHODS

Through an online survey sent to all resident physicians of the 2017-2018 academic year of a tertiary care children's hospital, demographic variables, knowledge, use, training and barriers to interrogate and search for ACEs were collected.

RESULTS

21% of residents answered the survey; the majority were women (70 %), less than 5 % of participants were familiar with ACEs, 31 % enquired about them in parents and their children, and 71 % considered having some barrier to interrogate about them.

CONCLUSIONS

Participants in this study showed limited knowledge about ACEs, which had an impact on the frequency they enquired about them with in their patients and their parents; at least half had the perception that it is beyond the reach of the pediatrician to identify them.

[Trauma craneal no accidental en niños: costo económico directo de la atención médica en un hospital de tercer nivel]

Introduction

Abusive head trauma (AHT) is an extreme form of physical abuse that is produced by abruptly shaking an infant or toddler.

Objective

To describe the direct economic cost of care during hospitalization of 14 children with confirmed diagnosis of AHT in a pediatric hospital.

Method

Analysis of the cost of disease in patients with AHT attended to between 2001 and 2010. Partial direct economic cost of medical care (days of hospital stay, laboratory tests and imaging studies, surgical procedures and subspecialist consultations) was calculated adjusting for inflation, with year 2001 taken as base year. Patients were classified in three groups (moderate, severe and fatal AHT). Descriptive and sensitivity analysis was carried out.

Results

Patients with severe AHT generated higher medical care costs ($105,794.88 ± 33,201.91) in comparison with the group of moderate ($37,012.95, ± 7,154.87) and fatal AHT ($18,595.04 ± 6424.47) (p <0.05). Total cost was $665,467.98 Mexican pesos ($71,249.25 international dollars).

Conclusions

Total cost for the 14 patients was an elevated figure, as in other parts of the world. The direct economic cost is closely related to the severity of the clinical presentation.

Maltrato entre pares o acoso escolar (bullying). ¿Debemos enfrentar el problema cuando la tragedia es inevitable?

Como consecuencia del lamentable evento acaecido a mediados del mes de enero de 2017 enla ciudad de Monterrey, Nuevo León, y el cual ha desencadenado una serie de opiniones gubernamentales,en los medios de comunicación electrónica y escrita, así como en algunos grupos de la sociedad civil de México, primordialmente surge la siguiente pregunta: ¿es que ante estos eventos, los mexicanos y, específicamente, los pediatras debemos reaccionar?

[Adolescent pregnancy: its causes and repercussions in the dyad]

Teen pregnancy (TP) is a global public health problem that affects the physical and emotional health, educational and economic status of prospective parents and often also affects the product of gestation. In most cases, the TP is an unplanned event, and often difficult to accept by the couple. But it is more complicated for the future mother who suddenly finds herself without the protection of the couple, her family and her school companions. The risks to which the young mothers are exposed are diverse, but include: submitting to a clandestine abortion, falling into drug addiction, prostitution and crime; Also, it should be noted that with so many adversities, she can develop child maltreatment and frequently, she may be attacked at home, at school or in society giving rise to the twin phenomena of child abuse. To address this problem, it is necessary to develop preventive strategies aimed at risk of early pregnancy or acquiring sexually transmitted diseases by implementing educational programs for personal, family or schools for this age group range. It stresses the need for these programs to be consistent and persistent, as a basic strategy to reduce the consequent risks to unplanned or accepted sex life.

[Child abuse: its knowledge, attention and diffusion in three pediatric hospitals in Mexico]

Child abuse (CA) was observed in Mexico since the early 60's through isolated publications from clinical cases and where manifestations of physical injury or sexual abuse predominated. Since the 90's, the Clinic for Integral Care of the Abused Child was established at the National Institute of Pediatrics (CAINM-INP, for its Spanish acronym), which actions were addressed to the care, teaching and research on this topic. This approach was replicated in two hospital centers in the country: the Clinic for Integral Care of the Abused Children at Children's Specialty Care Hospital of Chihuahua and the Pediatric Service of the General Hospital of Mexicali. The main objective of this work was to present to the medical community, paramedics, and other professionals who interact with the pediatric population and society, the efforts that have been made in Mexico to address this legal, medical, and social pathology in a logical manner, and always aimed at protecting victims and their families.

Síndrome del niño sacudido: cuadro clínico y evolución de 17 casos en el Instituto Nacional de Pediatría

<p>Introducción: el síndrome del niño sacudido es una modalidad grave del maltrato infantil: afecta al cerebro, la retina y a veces algunos huesos. Su frecuencia y características no se han precisado en México.</p><p>Objetivo: describir y determinar los posibles factores desencadenantes, los cuidadores, el cuadro clínico y la evolución de pacientes afectados por el síndrome del niño sacudido.</p><p><br />Materiales y métodos: estudio de serie de casos mediante el análisis de 17 expedientes de pacientes diagnosticados con síndrome del niño sacudido, en el Instituto Nacional de Pediatría, entre 2002 y 2010. </p><p> </p><p>Resultados: doce pacientes (70%) eran del sexo masculino; la edad promedio fue de 5.7 meses (límites de 2 a 14 meses). Los antecedentes en el niño que probablemente pudieron desencadenar el sacudimiento fueron: en 11 casos la irritabilidad (71%), en 8 (47%) el llanto inconsolable y en 6 la presencia de una enfermedad aguda (35%). En los padres se identificó como posible desencadenante impulsividad en cinco casos (29%), estrés en cinco (29%) y enojo en tres (18%). Los cuidadores habituales del menor fueron la madre en 11 casos (65%), los tíos en cinco (29%), ambos padres en cuatro (24%) y los abuelos en tres (18%); el padre presenció el inicio de los síntomas de gravedad en 6 casos (35%), los tíos en cuatro (24%), la madre en tres (18%) y ambos padres en dos (12%). El cuadro clínico se caracterizó por crisis convulsivas en 13 pacientes (76%), irritabilidad en siete (41%), dificultad respiratoria en siete casos (41%), cianosis en seis (35%) y rechazo al alimento en cinco (29%). En el hospital se corroboraron: crisis convulsivas en 14 casos (82%), alteraciones en el estado de conciencia en once (65%), necesidad de apoyo ventilatorio en siete (41%) e irritabilidad en tres (18%). La exploración de fondo de ojo reveló: hemorragia retiniana unio bilateral en 15 pacientes (88%), hemorragia vítrea en nueve (53%) y desprendimiento de retina bilateral en tres (18%). La tomografía axial<br />computada de cráneo mostró edema cerebral en diez casos (59%), hemorragia subaracnoidea en nueve (53%), hematoma subdural en cinco (29%) y fractura de cráneo en cinco (29%), alteraciones con las que se estableció el diagnóstico de síndrome del niño sacudido (71%) y síndrome de niño sacudido y azotado (35%). Fallecieron seis niños (35%). Todos los sobrevivientes (11 pacientes) tuvieron secuelas: daño visual (59%), daño motor (53%), crisis convulsivas (50%), problemas del lenguaje (41%) y problemas en la audición (18%).</p><p>Conclusión: el síndrome del niño sacudido es una forma de abuso físico que debe ser motivo de sospecha en un niño menor de un año que súbitamente presenta crisis convulsivas, dificultad cardiorrespiratoria o llega muerto al hospital.</p><p> </p>

Immunogenicity, reactogenicity and safety of the 10-valent pneumococcal nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae protein D conjugate vaccine (PHiD-CV) in Mexican infants

The immunogenicity and safety of the 10-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, PHiD-CV, have been documented in European and Asian studies. In this open study conducted in Mexico (NCT00489554), 230 healthy infants received three doses of PHiD-CV and DTPa-HBV-IPV/Hib vaccines at 2, 4 and 6 months of age and two doses of oral human rotavirus vaccine at 2 and 4 months. Serotype-specific pneumococcal responses and opsonophagocytic activity (OPA) were measured one month post-dose 3. PHiD-CV's primary vaccination course was highly immunogenic against each of the 10 pneumococcal vaccine serotypes and carrier protein D. Antibody responses against pneumococcal serotypes and protein D were generally higher in Mexican infants compared with European antibody responses, and functional OPA responses were also higher or in the same range. The most frequent solicited local symptom was pain, with high but similar incidences of grade 3 pain reported at both injection sites (up to 15% of all doses). PHiD-CV was well tolerated, with no serious adverse events considered as causally related to vaccination. Most solicited symptoms were mild and there was no increase in incidence of solicited symptoms with successive vaccine doses.