Child Public Health Resources
Reading archive
Hot Reads for Child Public Health June 2008
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A Randomized Trial of the Effects of Reducing Television Viewing and Computer Use on Body Mass Index in Young Children Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 2008 162(3):239-245.
This randomised controlled trial involved 70 children aged 4 to 7 years with BMI at or above the 75th BMI percentile for age and sex. They were randomized to an intervention to reduce their television viewing and computer use by 50% or to a monitoring control group that did not reduce television viewing or computer use. Follow-up continued for 2 years. Children randomized to the intervention group showed greater reductions in targeted sedentary behaviour, age-and-sex-standardised BMI, and energy intake compared with the monitoring control group. Particularly important is that this intervention worked better among families of low socioeconomic status, using BMI as the outcome variable. -
An informal school-based peer-led intervention for smoking prevention in adolescence (ASSIST): a cluster randomised trial Lancet 2008 371(9624): 1595–1602.
A peer-led intervention that aimed to prevent smoking uptake in secondary schools in England and Wales could lead to a reduction in adolescent smoking prevalence of public-health importance if implemented on a population basis. The intervention consisted of training influential students to act as peer supporters during informal interactions outside the classroom to encourage their peers not to smoke. This cluster randomised controlled trial of 10 730 students aged 12–13 years found an odds ratio of being a smoker in intervention compared with control schools of 0·78 (0·64–0·96). A reduction in smoking was observed overall and in the high-risk group, and at follow-up immediately after the intervention and after one and two years. -
Dimensions of sexual orientation and HIV-related risk among adolescent females: evidence from a statewide survey AJPH 2008 98 (6) 1051-1058.
Massachusetts population-based survey of sexually experienced female high school students found that self-defined sexual identity other than heterosexual, and having same-sex partners (either exclusively or in addition to male partners), were associated with high rates of several HIV-related risk behaviours. Coerced sexual contact was significantly associated with every risk outcome. AIDS education in school predicted lower HIV risk on 4 of 6 indicators. A reminder that sexual health programs among adolescent females should take into account the complexity of sexual orientation and should address the needs and behaviours of all. -
Promoting the Participation of Children With Disabilities in Sports, Recreation, and Physical Activities Pediatrics 2008 121 (5): 1057-1061.
This is an opinion piece but I have included it as it is important, and includes reference to some key documents. The author notes that children with disabilities are more restricted in their participation, have lower levels of fitness, and have higher levels of obesity than their peers without disabilities. Health supervision visits afford paediatricians, children with disabilities, and parents with opportunities to ensure that all children with disabilities can participate in appropriate activities. -
Results of Newborn Screening for Hearing Loss Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 2008 162(3):205-211.
This study set out to determine the effect on mothers of ‘false-positive’ results in screening of newborn hearing. They compared mothers of 33 infants with confirmed hearing loss, of 42 infants with a false-positive screening result, and of 70 infants in the control group, using scores on the Parenting Stress Index and the Impact on Family–Adapted Version G. Mothers of infants in the false-positive group did not report increased stress or impact. Identification of HL was independently associated with greater total impact on the family, as measured when the child was 18 to 24 months of age. -
Review of evidence to guide primary health care policy and practice to prevent childhood obesity MJA 2008; 188 (8 Suppl): S87-S91.
A comprehensive literature review of interventions aimed at primary prevention of overweight and obesity among children found that only 45/982 studies related to 2-6 year-olds, and of these only 11 ranked highly on key criteria. Authors call for greater engagement of PHC providers in prevention of childhood obesity, and state that this requires a systematic and comprehensive approach. -
The concept of prevention: a good idea gone astray? J. Epidemiol. Community Health 2008;62;580-583.
A thought-provoking opinion piece. Authors note that the definition of prevention has expanded so much over time that its meaning in the context of health services is now unclear, and there is an increasing tendency to seek to manage risks in individuals rather than improve health in a population. They suggest principles for the future including a population orientation with explicit consideration of attributable risk, the setting of priorities based on reduction in illness, and the imperative to reduce inequities in health. A paper relevant to discussions about the role of public health medicine in Australia. -
Time trends in the incidence of type 1 diabetes in Finnish children: a cohort study Lancet 2008 371 (9626):1777-1782.
Review of incidence data 1980-2005 show escalating rate increase in type 1 diabetes among Finnish children aged under 15 years. The average age-standardised incidence increased from 31·4 per 100 000 per year in 1980 to 64·2 per 100 000 per year in 2005, with the largest increase among children aged 0–4 years. The authors conclude that the number of new cases diagnosed at or before 14 years of age will double in the next 15 years and the age of onset will be younger (0–4 years).