Child abuse can alter the onset of menstruation in girls

Friday, August 3)--HealthDay News girls who are physically or sexually assaulted can start menstruation earlier or later than average, according to a new study.

After analyzing the information about women, 69000 researchers from Boston University School of Medicine found that the sexual abuse in childhood were 49% more likely to have their first period to 11 years than women who had not been abused. Women who suffered heavy physical abuse have a 50% increase in risk for starting their menstrual cycles later, or after 15 years.

In the United States during times of girls start at an average of about 12.5 years, according to the national institutes of health United States. Studies do not suggest, however, that the girl who starts menstruating earlier or later than usual, have been subjected to violence.

"In our study was associated with the accelerated and delayed age at menarche cruel and it is important that these associations vary with the type of abuses that suggest that child abuse is not a homogeneous impact on health," said study leader Dr. Renée Boynton-Jarrett, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, University Press release.

"There is a need for further research to study the characteristics of child abuse that might affect health outcomes, including the type and severity of the abuse, as well as the social context in which the abuse occurs," Boynton-Jarrett.

The researchers noted that girls who menstruate early can be at greater risk for certain health problems such as heart disease, cancer, metabolic dysfunction and depression. In the meantime, the girls who menstruate later may be more likely to have depression and lower bone mineral density.

"We must work towards a better understanding of how abuse affects the health and translate these findings into clinical practice and public health strategy to improve the welfare of victims of ill-treatment," Boynton-Jarrett said.

The study was published online July 26 in the journal of adolescent health.

Dallas — Mary Elizabeth Copyright © 2012 HealthDay. All rights reserved. Source: Boston University Medical Center, press release, July 27, 2012

View the original article here

Girls In Progress

AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota

May 22 2012

by Jessica Mayorga, Director of Marketing, NCLR

(This was first posted to the ALMA Awards 411 blog.)

A new film, Girl in Progress, was released recently, and just in time for National Teen Pregnancy Prevention Month. Simply stated, teen pregnancy, sexuality, and the drama of growing up are topics in the Latino community that merit attention and frank discussions.

Girl in Progress speaks to these issues and puts a Hollywood spotlight on a topic that has long been taboo in Latino households but that very much needs to be addressed. We’re excited to see past ALMA nominees and popular Latino talent drive this film and encourage us to change these experiences for our families. Eva Mendes plays a starring role in Girl in Progress as an overwhelmed and preoccupied single mother of an attention-starved preteen (played by Cierra Ramirez) seeking her own identity and independence. The film vividly and sometimes painfully demonstrates that a parent’s attention and interest in a child’s life makes all the difference and can be the deciding factor for success. We watch the daughter, Ansiedad, make unguided and perhaps devastating decisions as she acts out, desperate for her mother to just be a mom to her. This portrayal of a family dynamic that is not uncommon in Latino communities brings forward issues of parent-child communication, sexuality, and the need for honest and open dialogue at home.

May is National Teen Pregnancy Prevention Month; it’s the perfect time for families to watch this movie and use this opportunity to break the ice about issues that we may not always feel comfortable talking about. We know that too many of our daughters enter this cycle of teen pregnancy, and that it often interrupts—if not permanently suspends—educational aspirations, career opportunities, and the opportunity to just be a girl and live out their dreams. This film, and National Teen Pregnancy Prevention Month, remind us that we can no longer be silent about these tough topics.

We applaud Hiram Martinez for this screenplay and the excellent Latino actors who brought the story to life.

At ALMA, we advocate for media responsibility, media literacy, and respectable roles for Latinos in American entertainment. We believe in educating Hollywood and educating audiences. We applaud this film for complementing our mission as we strive to tackle challenges in our communities and strengthening opportunities for Latinos of all ages.

Issues: NCLR ALMA Awards
Geography:California, Far West, Midwest, Northeast, Southeast, Texas

View the original article here