Related Experiment Videos
[Parenthood--medical aspects of international adoption]
Yehuda Senecky1, Uri Rubinstein, Gary Diamond
1Center for Child Development, Schneider Children's Medical Center of Israel, Petah Tikva, Israel.
Insights
International adoption is rising, bringing children with infectious diseases like HIV and Hepatitis B. Specialized physician training is recommended to ensure the health of adopted children and the public.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Infectious Diseases
- Pediatrics
Context:
- Increased international adoption rates in Western countries, including Israel.
- Concerns regarding infectious diseases in internationally adopted children.
- Lack of familiarity with health issues among primary caregivers.
Purpose:
- To address the health concerns associated with international adoption.
- To outline the need for specialized care for internationally adopted children.
- To recommend strategies for protecting public and family health.
Summary:
- International adoptions have increased due to a shortage of native-born children.
- Children adopted internationally may carry indigenous infectious diseases (e.g., HIV, Hepatitis B/C, Tuberculosis, Syphilis).
- Specialized physician training is proposed to manage health risks.
Impact:
- Development of Ministry of Health guidelines for public and family well-being.
- Highlights the need for enhanced medical knowledge among caregivers.
- Aims to improve health outcomes for internationally adopted children.
Abstract:
The unavailability of significant numbers of native-born children for adoption by local families has led to an upsurge in international adoptions throughout the Western world, including Israel. The sudden appearance here of large numbers of babies and young children from countries with a variety of indigenous infectious diseases has focused concern on the issue. It has also induced the Ministry of Health to issue guidelines to protect the well-being of the public at large, as well as to aid adoptive families in maintaining their own, as well as their newly adopted children's health. The great majority of community based primary caregivers are unfamiliar with the health issues surrounding internationally adopted children. These children merit special care and consideration. One possible solution, in addition to educational campaigns, and already implemented abroad, is the specialized training of physicians caring for large numbers of such children. [International Adoption, HIV, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, Tuberculosis, Syphilis].