Child Public Health Resources
Reading archive
Hot Reads for Child Public Health August 2006
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Maternal concern and perceptions of overweight in Australian preschool-aged children. MJA 2006; 184 (6): 274-277
A community-based cohort of 324 4-year-old Melbourne children and their parents were surveyed to measure maternal reports of concern and perceptions of the child’s weight, diet and activity relative to their peers. The children and parent were measured.The prevalence of overweight or obesity was 19%, but only 5% of mothers indicated concern about their child being currently overweight, more so in girls than in boys. Mothers were more likely to worry about their child’s potential for future overweight if they or the child’s father were overweight. Despite mounting public concern about childhood obesity in Australia, most mothers surveyed were not concerned about their child’s weight, and many mothers did not perceive their overweight children as different from their peers (with respect to their weight, diet and activity level). This may have implications for interventions that rely on acknowledgement of child overweight as a first step to change. -
An 8 year study of risk factors for SIDS: bed-sharing versus non-bed-sharing. Arch Dis Child 2006;91:318-323
The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of bed-sharing during the last sleep period on risk factors for SIDS in Irish infants. 287 SIDS cases and 831 controls, matched for date, place of birth, and sleep period, from an 8 year (1994–2001) population based case control study were included in the study. The risk associated with bed-sharing was three times greater for infants with low birth weight for gestation (UOR 16.28 v 4.90), and increased fourfold if the combined tog value of clothing and bedding was ≥10 (UOR 9.68 v 2.34). The unadjusted odds ratio for bed-sharing was 13.87 (95% CI 9.58 to 20.09) for infants whose mothers smoked and 2.09 (95% CI 0.98 to 4.39) for non-smokers. Age of death for bed-sharing and sofa-sharing infants (12.8 and 8.3 weeks, respectively) was less than for infants not sharing a sleep surface (21.0 weeks, p<0.001) and fewer bed-sharing cases were found prone (5% v 32%; p = 0.001). -
A meta-analysis of the effect of high weight on asthma. Arch Dis Child 2006;91:334-339
Cohort studies that examined high body weight at birth or during childhood and future outcome of asthma were included. A total of 402 studies were initially identified, of which 12 met the inclusion criteria. The combined results from four studies that examined the effect of high body weight during middle childhood on the outcome of subsequent asthma showed a 50% increase in relative risk (RR 1.5, 95% CI 1.2 to 1.8). The combined results from nine studies that examined the effect of high birth weight on subsequent asthma had a pooled RR of 1.2 (95% CI 1.1 to 1.3). The authors concluded that children with high body weight, either at birth or later in childhood, are at increased risk for future asthma. Potential biological mechanisms include diet, gastro-oesophageal reflux, mechanical effects of obesity, atopy, and hormonal influences. Further research might elucidate the causal pathway, which could improve our understanding of the pathophysiology of asthma and perhaps lead to knowledge of potential preventive interventions. -
Abstracts of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health 10th Spring Meeting University of York 3-6 April 2006. Arch Dis Child. 1 April 2006; Vol. 91, Supplement No. 1
Community child health and child public health joint session
There were 8 abstracts in this session. Topics covered included management of childhood obesity, effects of early puberty, attitudes to shared care of ADHD, specialist contribution of British paediatric surveillance unit reporting, opportunistic immunisation in hospital, health service planning and childhood injury. -
Should all children be immunised against hepatitis A? Jonathan L Temte. BMJ 2006;332:715-718
Given the recent US recommendation for vaccination of all children against hepatitis A, Temte examines the evidence on hepatitis A epidemiology, childhood vaccinations, and issues relating to vaccine policy. The new recommendation is based on strong epidemiological evidence of its effectiveness but is compromised by the reduced prevalence of the virus thanks to the success of targeted vaccination. Temte warns that adding two more injections to an already crowded vaccination schedule may reduce compliance and increase the already high costs but concludes that the recommendation is probably justified.
Currently, in Australia, only aboriginal children in certain states are recommended for hepatitis A vaccine (Indigenous hepatitis A vaccination fact sheet). -
Whooping cough in school age children with persistent cough: prospective cohort study in primary care BMJ 2006;333:174-177
172 children aged 5-16 years who presented to their general practitioner with a cough lasting 14 days or more who consented to have a blood test were included in the study. The main outcome measures Serological evidence of a recent Bordetella pertussis infection; symptoms at presentation; duration and severity of cough; sleep disturbance (parents and child). 37 % of the children had serological evidence of a recent Bordetella pertussis infection (85.9% of these children had been fully immunised). For school age children presenting to primary care with a cough lasting two weeks or more, a diagnosis of whooping cough should be considered even if the child has been immunised. Making a secure diagnosis of whooping cough may prevent inappropriate investigations and treatment. -
Mental Health Care Services for Children With Special Health Care Needs and Their Family Members: Prevalence and Correlates of Unmet Needs. PEDIATRICS Vol. 117 No. 6 June 2006, pp. 2138-2148
The National Survey of Children With Special Health Care Needs was used to estimate the prevalence of unmet mental health care needs among children with special health care needs (1–17 years old) and their families. The independent impact of child and family factors on unmet needs was also measured. Results indicated that children with special health care needs and their families are at risk for not receiving needed mental health care services. Also, children in families of lower socioeconomic status were disproportionately reporting higher rates of unmet needs. Authors suggest that broader policies to identify and connect families with needed services are warranted and that child- and family-centered approaches alone will not meet the needs of these children and their families. Other interventions such as anti-poverty and insurance expansion efforts may be needed as well.