scholarly journals Children and adolescents with disabilities in Brazil: effects of the COVID-19 pandemic

2021 ◽  
Vol 41 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Luciana Alves Drumond Almeida ◽  
Mellanie Fontes-Dutra

The present research aimed to perform data survey and analysis of children and teenagers among 0- to 19-year-olds related to SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) and COVID-19 in populations with or without disabilities during the year of 2020. The database used for the evaluations was Sivep-Gripe, made available by the Ministry of Health. The database did not present variables regarding the type of disability and a proxy was created by the binary variable of Down syndrome and by qualitative analysis of clinical data of descriptive morbidity. This limitation hindered the consideration of the experience of disability as an interaction between bodily impairments and the environment, as well as the generalization regarding cases in this population. The analysis variables included individual, regional and progression characteristics of the cases, such as the need for hospitalization, admission to the ICU, use of ventilatory supports and evolution of the cases for the recovery or death. 83,491 cases of children up to 19 years old were considered. Of this total, 2,370 (3.27%) were categorized with the disability proxy. The analyzes showed the differences between cases and progressions between children and young people without disabilities and by type of disability, with the highest proportions of COVID-19 cases found in those with physical, intellectual or psychosocial disabilities. Considering the age groups, we found higher frequencies of these cases among children up to 4 years old in general; with intellectual or psychosocial disabilities between 5 and 9 years; and those with physical disabilities between 14 and 19 years. The progression of the children's cases demonstrates the relevance of considering their vulnerability and its effects on hospital establishments, since they are more susceptible to being hospitalized, requiring ICU admissions and respiratory support. Even with the use of these resources for the maintenance of life, the proportion of children with disabilities who evolve to death is equivalent to more than double (in the cases of COVID-19) and triple (SARS) of those without disabilities. Based on these verifications, we emphasize the need to further investigate, plan and execute public policies that target this population, especially in relation to health services in the current context of increasing cases of COVID-19 and its variants across the country. In addition, we seek to contribute to academic discussions that address disability as a relevant social marker that permeates the different layers of inequality and social exclusion, exposed and deepened in the pandemic context.

2018 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 291-303 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nastasja M de Graaf ◽  
Ilham I Manjra ◽  
Anna Hames ◽  
Claudia Zitz

Background: Little is known about how social and cultural variants interact with gender identity development. This article aims to identify the ethnicities of children and young people referred to the United Kingdom’s national Gender Identity Development Service (GIDS), and compare the ethnicity data with the UK child population and referrals to Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS). Methods: GIDS referrals made between April 2012 and April 2015 for children and young people were retrieved. Ethnicity data were obtained by the ‘16 + 1’ ethnicity list. Chi-square and t-tests were performed on the demographics. Results: Less than 10% of the 995 referrals at GIDS were from Black and minority ethnic (BME) groups – an underrepresentation as compared with both the national population and CAMHS figures. No significant differences in ethnic representation were found between the demographic birth-assigned sexes, across age groups, or year of referral. Conclusions: Hypotheses proposed for this underrepresentation take into account both the potential barriers to accessing services and the possibility of cross-cultural variations in the conceptualisations of gender, gender roles and gender diversity. Ethnicity, culture and religion, and their overlapping relationship with gender need further exploration.


2020 ◽  
Vol 48 (4) ◽  
pp. 1-15
Author(s):  
David Pearson ◽  
Fiona Kennedy ◽  
Vishal Talreja ◽  
Suchetha Bhat ◽  
Katherine Newman-Taylor

Severe poverty, adversity, and malnutrition have irrefutable negative effects on the development and mental health of children and young people. The Life Skills Assessment Scale (LSAS), is a 5-item impact assessment scale developed in India, that provides a simple, yet valid and reliable, instrument to assess life skills of disadvantaged children and young people, with age norms of 8–16 years. In the present study, in Bengaluru, India, we used observational data obtained from 656 disadvantaged young people to extend the LSAS age norms to 17–19 and 20–22 years age groups, resulting in a simple, valid, and reliable assessment tool for children and young people aged from 8 to 22 years.


2016 ◽  
Vol 102 (2) ◽  
pp. 131-138 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stuart Jarvis ◽  
Roger C Parslow ◽  
Pat Carragher ◽  
Bryony Beresford ◽  
Lorna K Fraser

ObjectiveTo determine the clinical stage (stable, unstable, deteriorating or dying) for children and young people (CYP) aged 0–25 years in Scotland with life-limiting conditions (LLCs).DesignNational cohort of CYP with LLCs using linked routinely collected healthcare data.SettingScotland.Patients20 436 CYP identified as having LLCs and resident in Scotland between 1 April 2009 and 31 March 2014.Main outcomeClinical stage based on emergency inpatient and intensive care unit admissions and date of death.ResultsOver 2200 CYP with LLCs in Scotland were unstable, deteriorating or dying in each year. Compared with 1-year-olds to 5-year-olds, children under 1 year of age had the highest risk of instability (OR 6.4, 95% CI 5.7 to 7.1); all older age groups had lower risk. Girls were more likely to be unstable than boys (OR 1.15, 95% CI 1.06 to 1.24). CYP of South Asian (OR 1.61, 95% CI 1.28 to 2.01), Black (OR 1.58, 95% CI 1.04 to 2.41) and Other (OR 1.33, 95% CI 1.02 to 1.74) ethnicity were more likely to experience instability than White CYP. Deprivation was not a significant predictor of instability. Compared with congenital abnormalities, CYP with most other primary diagnoses had a higher risk of instability; only CYP with a primary perinatal diagnosis had significantly lower risk (OR 0.23, 95% CI 0.19 to 0.29).ConclusionsThe large number of CYP with LLCs who are unstable, deteriorating or dying may benefit from input from specialist paediatric palliative care. The age group under 1 and CYP of South Asian, Black and Other ethnicities should be priority groups.


2015 ◽  
Vol 100 (9) ◽  
pp. 826-833 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katherine Curtis-Tyler ◽  
Lisa Arai ◽  
Terence Stephenson ◽  
Helen Roberts

BackgroundThere is mounting evidence that experience of care is a crucial part of the pathway for successful management of long-term conditions.Design and objectivesTo carry out (1) a systematic mapping of qualitative evidence to inform selection of studies for the second stage of the review; and (2) a narrative synthesis addressing the question, What makes for a ‘good’ or a ‘bad’ paediatric diabetes service from the viewpoint of children, young people, carers and clinicians?ResultsThe initial mapping identified 38 papers. From these, the findings of 20 diabetes-focused papers on the views on care of ≥650 children, parents and clinicians were synthesised. Only five studies included children under 11 years. Children and young people across all age groups valued positive, non-judgemental and relationship-based care that engaged with their social, as well as physical, health. Parents valued provision responsive to the circumstances of family life and coordinated across services. Clinicians wanting to engage with families beyond a child's immediate physical health described finding this hard to achieve in practice.LimitationsSocioeconomic status and ethnicity were poorly reported in the included studies.ConclusionsIn dealing with diabetes, and engaging with social health in a way valued by children, parents and clinicians, not only structural change, such as more time for consultation, but new skills for reworking relations in the consultation may be required.


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julia Fuchs ◽  
Roman Hovorka

Recent advances in diabetes technology have led to the development of closed-loop insulin delivery systems for the management of type 1 diabetes. Several such systems are now commercially available for children and young people. While all available systems have been shown to improve glycaemic control and quality of life in this population, qualitative data also highlights the challenges in using closed-loop systems, which vary among different pediatric age-groups. Very young children require systems that are able to cope with low insulin doses and significant glycaemic variability due to their high insulin sensitivity and unpredictable eating and exercise patterns. Adolescents' compliance is often related to size and number of devices, usability of the systems, need for calibrations, and their ability to interact with the system. Given the speed of innovations, understanding the capabilities and key similarities and differences of current systems can be challenging for healthcare professionals, caregivers and young people with type 1 diabetes alike. The aim of this review is to summarize the key evidence on currently available closed-loop systems for children and young people with type 1 diabetes, as well as commenting on user experience, where real-world data are available. We present findings on a system-basis, as well as identifying specific challenges in different pediatric age-groups and commenting on how current systems might address these. Finally, we identify areas for future research with regards to closed-loop technology tailored for pediatric use and how these might inform reimbursement and alleviate disease burden.


2009 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 262-275 ◽  
Author(s):  
Spyros Themelis

This article deals with issues pertinent to the ‘inclusion’ of Roma/Traveller children and young people in Europe and, in particular, England. It discusses some key issues that pertain to the inclusion of Roma/Traveller groups in society and it critically presents some key policies that have been advanced to tackle educational and social exclusion of these groups. The aim in this article is to explore the impact these approaches have had thus far and to unravel some of the contradictions, inconsistencies and tensions that permeate them. The critical examination of such approaches is principally located within the context of the United Kingdom, but relevant policies and initiatives that have been introduced by supra-national European organisations are also discussed in order to inform the reader about the wider context in relation to the issues many Roma/Traveller groups face. Inclusion does not operate in a vacuum. It is argued that a set of structural and ideological factors that impact on inclusion need to be identified and linked to a renewed and enriched inclusion approach. In fighting exclusion, holistic and sustained approaches are necessary, which cut across social, political, economic and cultural domains and extend well beyond the formal education of one group (the Roma/Travellers).


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