Parents who refuse to have their children vaccinated appear to be clustered in certain areas, a new study suggests. Among more than 150,000 children in 13 counties in Northern California, the researchers found five clusters where kids had missed one or more vaccinations by the time they were 3 years old.

Healthfinder.gov, January 19, 2015

Fla. boy's circumcision spurs lengthy legal battle, protests

An estranged Florida couple's fight over whether to circumcise their son has become a rallying cry for those who denounce the procedure as barbaric.

Herald Online, January 19, 2015

HPV VACCINE NOT AS POPULAR AS IT SHOULD BE: STUDY

But according to new research from the Moffitt Cancer Center, the HPV vaccine isn't as popular as it should be - especially among boys."It feels a little bit like we've fallen short," said Susan Vadaparampil, a professor and senior member of the Moffitt Cancer Center. Vadaparampil said in the U.S., only 38 percent of girls have completed all three doses of the vaccination. For boys, it's only 14 percent. "We would probably do a lot better if everybody was on the same page in terms of vaccine benefits, being comfortable with discussing the vaccine, and seeing how there is potential to prevent cancer," Vadaparampil said.

ABC7, January 17, 2015

It's time to try a new sales pitch, said national health leaders gathered at Moffitt Cancer Center on Thursday for a major conference on HPV, or human papillomavirus. "We need to start talking about it as a cancer vaccine, instead of a vaccine for sexually transmitted disease," said Dr. Otis Brawley, chief medical officer of the American Cancer Society.

TampaBay.com, January 15, 2015

More than 50 percent of the drivers tested positive for alcohol (36.8 percent), marijuana (5.9 percent) or both substances (7.6 percent). Those older than 21 were 14 percent more likely to test positive for alcohol, and slightly more likely to test positive for both alcohol and marijuana than those under the legal drinking age.

Healthfinder.gov, January 15, 2015

School climates, suicide and gay and lesbian students: Research on LGBT and youth education 

Research has shown that sexual-minority youth - those who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender - are more likely than their heterosexual peers to experience violence in their lives, including bullying, harassment and physical assault. In addition to the safety and physical health consequences, violence and victimization are associated with higher rates of anxiety, depression and suicide, and indeed, sexual minorities have been found to bear a disproportionate burden with respect to these health issues. 

Journalist's Resource, January 15, 2015

Young boys should be encouraged to play with dolls to help develop their "nurturing and caring" instincts, the equalities minister, Jo Swinson, has argued. She condemned the stereotyping at an early age which eventually pushed men and women into different careers as she warned of the "huge shortage" of men working as careers.

The Independent, January 13, 2015

STUDY: The Internet's Multiple Roles in Facilitating the Sexual Orientation Identity Development of Gay and Bisexual Male Adolescents

(abstract free; article requires subscription)

One emerging avenue for the exploration of adolescents' sexual orientation identity development is the Internet, since it allows for varying degrees of anonymity and exploration. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to examine the role of the Internet in facilitating the sexual orientation identity development process of gay and bisexual male adolescents.

American Journal of Men's Health, January 13, 2015

It is little wonder that only about 1 in 5 children with diagnosable mental-health problems gets treatment. Now, more pediatricians are embedding mental-health professionals into their practices, where they can help spot problems early, provide care fast or reassure parents that a child's behavior is normal. Integrated care, as it is called, has other advantages: Pediatricians often see patients annually for a decade or more and follow families closely. If issues arise, instead of giving parents a referral, they can do a "warm handoff," personally introducing them to a therapist down the hall.

Wall Street Journal, January 12, 2015

A new generation of fathers and sons are closer than ever before, according to new research released today, and the improved relationships bode well for future generations, according to experts. Fathers are twice as likely to be "close" to their sons today, with more than one in three (35 per cent) describing their relationship in this way. But only 18 per cent felt the same about how they got on with their own father, according to a national UK survey, by OnePoll, of 1,000 men with sons aged between 12 and 16.

The Independent, January 11, 2015

Medline Plus, January 9, 2015

Study compares mental health of trans, non-trans youth

Transgender youth have disparately negative mental health outcomes related to depression, anxiety, suicide ideation, suicide attempt, and self-harm without lethal intent compared to their non-transgender youth counterparts. The finding is detailed in a new study entitled Mental health of transgender youth in care at an adolescent urban community health center: A matched retrospective cohort study published today in the Journal of Adolescent Health.

Windy City Times, January 9, 2015

Let's talk about sex

It was my first day as a member of the Johns Hopkins University program known as CRASH, or Creating Responsibility for Adolescent Sexual Health, which is dedicated to educating Baltimore adolescents on all matters of sexual and reproductive health, from sexually transmitted infections and pregnancy to relationships and sexuality. At the end of every session, the boys write down five to 10 questions on index cards, so that by the end of six weeks they have each asked 30 to 60 questions. Sixty questions that prior to CRASH had been left unanswered.

Baltimore Sun, January 8, 2015

Gardasil HPV Vaccine Not Linked To Multiple Sclerosis Or Related Diseases

The human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine Gardasil is not linked to an increased risk of multiple sclerosis or any other similar central nervous system conditions, found a study published in JAMA today.

Forbes, January 6, 2015