JAMA: Pediatrics Topic Collection

Addressing the Social Determinants of Health Within the Patient-Centered Medical Home Lessons From Pediatrics Social Determinants of Health in the Medical Home

Garg A, Jack B, Zuckerman B. — Wed, 15 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Socioeconomic disparities in health continue to exist, despite advances in medicine. Since the classic Whitehall studies, it has been well known that the social context in which an individual lives and works influences health. Mitigating the harmful consequences of social factors that contribute to health disparities has largely been left to the public health and policy communities, whereas clinical medicine has traditionally focused on identifying and reducing biological risk factors for an individual patient. The patient-centered medical home (PCMH), however, offers an important opportunity to promote population health through systematically addressing the social determinants of health.

Selections From News@JAMA and JAMA Forum

Wed, 15 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Climate Change Linked With Increase in Diarrheal Disease

Friedrich MJ. — Wed, 15 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Changes in climate that lead to an increase in temperature and a decrease in precipitation are associated with an increase in diarrheal disease in children in Botswana, a sub-Saharan country with distinct wet and dry seasons (Alexander KA et al. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2013;10[4]:1202-1230).

Cognitive Effects of Konzo

Friedrich MJ. — Wed, 15 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Konzo, an irreversible neuromotor disorder in children that has been linked to ingestion of bitter cassava root, a staple food in sub-Saharan Africa, also undermines cognitive function, even in those with no physical symptoms of the disease, report researchers from Michigan State University, East Lansing (Boivin MJ et al. Pediatrics. 2013;131[4]:e1231-e1239).

One in 5 Teens Giving Birth Already Has a Child

Wed, 15 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Teen births have decreased in the last 20 years, but a new statistic demonstrates the need for more counseling about preventing pregnancy: nearly 20% of teens giving birth already have at least 1 child.

Many Children Still Have High Blood Lead Levels

Wed, 15 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Eliminating lead in paint, gasoline, and children's toys has drastically reduced the number of children with dangerous blood lead levels since the late 1970s. But a new study shows that 2.6% of US children aged 1 to 5 years still have excess lead in their blood.