Improving Pain Management for Marginalized Communities: Educating the Next Generation of Health Care Professionals.

Inadequately managed pain has immense negative impacts on children, families, health care systems, and societies. Historically and presently, inadequately treated pain disproportionally affects marginalized communities. Deficiencies in pain education for health care providers are widely recognized as a leading contributor to poorly managed pain.

Increased Body Mass Index Associated with Increased Risky Sexual Behaviors.

Study Objective: The increasing prevalence of adolescent obesity has led to consideration of the potential effect of obesity on risky sexual behaviors. In the current study we examined whether body mass index (BMI) was related to age at sexual debut, type of sexual behavior, partner number, and condom use in a population of adolescent women at high risk for obesity and risky sexual behaviors.

Design, Setting, And Participants: Cross-sectional examination of 860 sexually active, predominantly minority, adolescent women who received medical care at an urban health center from 2007 through 2013.

Sexual minority youth.

This article provides an overview of the medical and mental health needs of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) youth population. Information is reviewed regarding both primary medical care and the special health risks that these youth face. Providers are introduced to the concept that societal and internalized homophobia lead directly to certain health disparities, including substance use, school and family rejection, depression, and increased sexually transmitted infection acquisition.

Adolescent growth and development.

Adolescence is a developmental stage defined by physical and psychosocial maturation. This article reviews normal pubertal development and the evaluation and management of adolescents with suspected pubertal abnormalities and provides an overview of adolescent psychosocial development.