The Handbook of International Adoption Medicine: A Guide for Physicians, Parents, and Providers
http://www.100md.com
《新英格兰医药杂志》
Each year, more than 40,000 children are adopted around the world, with more than 20,000 in the United States alone. Most children who are available for adoption live in crowded institutional settings with a limited number of caregivers, poor nutrition, and a lack of a stimulating environment. When these children join their new families, many of them are malnourished, are developmentally delayed, and show evidence of emotional neglect. Although these children have unique medical, developmental, and psychological needs, they often do not receive the specialized care they require.
The field of international adoption medicine has emerged during the past decade as a result of the increasing number of international adoptions and the recognition that these children face unique medical and social issues. International adoption medicine encompasses a wide range of fields, including general pediatrics, infectious diseases, developmental pediatrics, and psychology.
In an ambitious effort, Laurie Miller, one of the pioneers of international adoption medicine, takes on a wide range of challenges for international adoptees. The book's content provides sufficient depth and detail for the health care provider and practical advice for adoptive parents. The author discusses questions to consider before the adoption, issues associated with prenatal exposures (including alcohol, drugs, smoking, and stress), travel and transitions (since most families travel to the child's birth country), growth and development, infectious diseases, and neurocognitive and behavioral problems. Country-specific data with useful appendixes provide key points for preadoption counseling. Instructions for evaluating a referral are informative for parents who are considering adoption and for adoption professionals who may counsel prospective parents.
Guidance is also provided regarding the evaluation of the newly arrived child and specialized approaches to common problems in the child's transition, such as eating, toileting, and bathing. Malnutrition, microcephaly, and other growth and developmental abnormalities are discussed, and Web-site references are provided. Of all the sections, perhaps the most useful is the last, which addresses attachment, learning, and cultural and identity issues. Information on these topics is not readily available, and the resources and appendixes provided in the chapters are extremely useful.
Although there is overlap of some subjects, the excellent index facilitates the location of subject areas of interest. Many subsections end with "frequently asked questions," a format that allows Miller to provide an abbreviated version of practical, straightforward information that is also available in the text. I found the chapters easy to read and generally well supported by references. The key points at the end of most sections are very useful in summarizing the major points of the chapters. The book contains many photographs of conditions that may be unfamiliar to people who have limited experience with internationally adopted children. There are ample references, although many of them are from presentations and therefore are not available to readers.
Despite these minor limitations, Miller should be applauded for her tremendous effort in bringing together the wide range of fields and topics in international adoption medicine, as well as writing a handbook that is detailed and practical. The book is an excellent resource for adoptive parents, adoption professionals, and health care professionals. It fills a gap in the literature and is a welcome and much-needed resource.
Mary Allen Staat, M.D., M.P.H.
University of Cincinnati College of Medicine
Cincinnati, OH 45229(By Laurie C. Miller. 448 )
The field of international adoption medicine has emerged during the past decade as a result of the increasing number of international adoptions and the recognition that these children face unique medical and social issues. International adoption medicine encompasses a wide range of fields, including general pediatrics, infectious diseases, developmental pediatrics, and psychology.
In an ambitious effort, Laurie Miller, one of the pioneers of international adoption medicine, takes on a wide range of challenges for international adoptees. The book's content provides sufficient depth and detail for the health care provider and practical advice for adoptive parents. The author discusses questions to consider before the adoption, issues associated with prenatal exposures (including alcohol, drugs, smoking, and stress), travel and transitions (since most families travel to the child's birth country), growth and development, infectious diseases, and neurocognitive and behavioral problems. Country-specific data with useful appendixes provide key points for preadoption counseling. Instructions for evaluating a referral are informative for parents who are considering adoption and for adoption professionals who may counsel prospective parents.
Guidance is also provided regarding the evaluation of the newly arrived child and specialized approaches to common problems in the child's transition, such as eating, toileting, and bathing. Malnutrition, microcephaly, and other growth and developmental abnormalities are discussed, and Web-site references are provided. Of all the sections, perhaps the most useful is the last, which addresses attachment, learning, and cultural and identity issues. Information on these topics is not readily available, and the resources and appendixes provided in the chapters are extremely useful.
Although there is overlap of some subjects, the excellent index facilitates the location of subject areas of interest. Many subsections end with "frequently asked questions," a format that allows Miller to provide an abbreviated version of practical, straightforward information that is also available in the text. I found the chapters easy to read and generally well supported by references. The key points at the end of most sections are very useful in summarizing the major points of the chapters. The book contains many photographs of conditions that may be unfamiliar to people who have limited experience with internationally adopted children. There are ample references, although many of them are from presentations and therefore are not available to readers.
Despite these minor limitations, Miller should be applauded for her tremendous effort in bringing together the wide range of fields and topics in international adoption medicine, as well as writing a handbook that is detailed and practical. The book is an excellent resource for adoptive parents, adoption professionals, and health care professionals. It fills a gap in the literature and is a welcome and much-needed resource.
Mary Allen Staat, M.D., M.P.H.
University of Cincinnati College of Medicine
Cincinnati, OH 45229(By Laurie C. Miller. 448 )