Publications by authors named "Sarah Depallens"

Neglect of children and adolescents is the most common form of abuse and occurs when their basic needs are not met. The negative impact on physical and mental health can be significant. Early detection by primary care physicians and support for parents and the community, in collaboration with the social and health network, are essential to ensure that minors have an environment conducive to their healthy development.

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Abusive head trauma (AHT) is a criminal offence that is prosecuted ex officio, following report to the police from physicians or child protection services. The aim of this study was to assess whether the judicial outcome (dismissal vs indictment) was influenced by the quality of the medical documentation and/or the time span between AHT diagnosis and reporting child abuse to the police. The cohort was divided in two groups: 13/23 dismissals (57%) and 10/23 indictments (43%).

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Exposure to domestic violence affects a significant number of minors and is recognized as psychological abuse of children, with harmful consequences for their health in the absence of protection. The identification of such situations by professionals remains a major challenge, given the culture of secrecy that often prevails in such circumstances. When the situation of children or adolescents exposed to domestic violence is known, it is essential to set up an assessment.

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Growing up in a climate of domestic violence can have serious repercussions on the health and development of minors. The Child Abuse and Neglect Team (CAN Team) specializes in detecting and analyzing this type of violence. Based on the literature, a tool for structuring the clinical assessment of the child's situation has been created, considering the context of the violence and the risk and protective factors.

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With current migratory movements, the population is becoming increasingly mixed, and consultations are receiving more migrants. The paediatrician or general practitioner is often the front-line health professional who has to assess how to welcome a newcomer family, investigate their life history, discuss mental health with them and sometimes overcome the negative prejudices that some cultures and people may have about psychiatry. Identifying worrying symptoms is an important first step in the overall assessment.

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Background: With the invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Army in February 2022, refugees, the majority of whom are women and children, started fleeing the war to neighbouring countries. Even before the current escalation, the conflict in the eastern part of Ukraine has led to the internal displacement of more than 200,000 children, and many others have experienced attacks, e.g.

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Mobbing amongst students represent a worrying public health issue. The role of doctors, whether in the hospital or in the office, is decisive in the early detection of suffering related to a context of violence at school. The CAN Team offers support to professionals confronted with these situations in order to improve the collaboration of adults, professionals or parents, who accompany these young people.

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During the semi-confinement period linked to the COVID-19 pandemic, the CHUV's Child Abuse and Neglect Team observed a decrease in cases of child abuse. Has confinement made it easier for families to avoid violence or, on the contrary, to hide it? Within the framework of this second hypothesis, we propose that the relaxation of the measures be an opportunity for professionals to explore in families the possible occurrence of domestic abuse.

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Youth sports participation is often perceived as a positive contributor to physical and psychological development. However, we must acknowledge that sometimes the sports environment can be plagued by events of abuse and non-accidental violence of different types. A global and systemic approach will allow the limitation of these catastrophic events in young athletes' lives.

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Social determinants have an impact on patients' access to care and on their health at any age. Young adults are a population at risk of being affected in their health because of a lack of social protection or unavailability of healthcare system adapted to their specific needs. Primary healthcare providers need to identify that window of social vulnerability in order to avoid a discontinuation in healthcare and to prevent biopsychosocial co-morbidity leading to ongoing consequences on their health.

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Benefits of physical activity during adolescence have widely been demonstrated. Yet, raising awareness among young athletes and their surrounding about risks associated with too early specialization or energy deficit--with or without eating disorder--is of outmost importance. Such behaviours can affect adolescents' physical or psychological development as well as compromise their athletic career not to mention the potential negative impact on their athletic performance.

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Every pediatrician will be confronted with newborns oryoung infants with skin lesions in proximity of the vertebral column. It is important not to miss a spinal dysraphism because of the risk of meningeal infection or of the possible presence of a tethered cord. A practical algorithm is presented.

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Sport activity is a determinant of health and well-being for adolescents' psychological and physic development. Early detection of traumatic lesions or pathological condition among sportive adolescent in the light of their developmental stage is of outmost importance and is best done by an interdisciplinary team. This clinical management also aims at preventing consequences of inappropriate training.

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Adolescents who are confronted to violence rarely consult health services about this problem. Family maltreatment is the origin of most violence against adolescents, but remains very often hidden from the eyes of professionals. The "assault and battery" reports produced by emergency services are largely about community violence situations.

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Objective: To assess social, economic and medical data concerning children without a resident permit taken into care by the Children's Hospital of Lausanne (HEL) in order to evaluate their specific needs.

Methods: Prospective exploratory study by a questionnaire including the socio-demographic, medical and education data of 103 children without a resident permit, who consulted the HEL for the first time between August 2003 and March 2006. These children were then recalled for a second check-up one year later in order to allow a regular monitoring.

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