PubMed · 4578560
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1973-07-21. Doris McWalter.. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/4578560/
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BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to estimate the prevalence of chronic diseases among four-to-five-year-old children in a Norwegian county in order to identify significant prognostic factors and to investigate the use of social benefits. METHODS: In the context of ordinary medical examinations in a Norwegian county, a questionnaire was given to 2430 parents, of whom 1913 (79%) responded. Children with chronic disease and with frequent episodes of disease were selected for further examination. Of the 391 children selected, 263 (69%) attended. The parents answered questions about diagnosis, prognosis, marital status, parents' health, use of social benefits, and the development of the disease. RESULTS: Almost half of the 263 children who met for further examination had airway diseases, nearly all of them asthma. Of the remaining, 17% had congenital malformations, 13% had neurological development disorders, 10% had skin and joint diseases, and 12% various conditions including gastrointestinal diseases and hormonal disorders. One third had recovered, one third had diminishing problems, and one third was unchanged or worse. Parents of 15 children born in 1991 who received basic or supplementary benefits stated that the child had recovered or had a diminishing problem. However, 53 children who had a stable or deteriorating condition did not receive any benefits. In 22 of these, the parents stated that their child's general functioning was significantly affected. It is possible that they would have met criteria for supplementary and/or basic benefits. INTERPRETATION: The results suggest that in 1996, 13% of four-to-five-year-old children in this county had a chronic disease. This finding is in line with other studies. Overuse and, more frequently, underuse of social benefits for these children was disclosed.
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This paper presents early findings from the evaluation of Starting Well, an intensive home visiting program aimed at improving the health of pre-school children in disadvantaged areas of Glasgow, Scotland. Using a quasi-experimental design, detailed survey, observation and interview data were collected on a cohort of 213 intervention and 146 comparison families over the first six months of the child's life. After controlling for relevant background characteristics, multivariate regression analysis revealed higher child dental registration rates and lower rates of maternal depressive symptoms in the intervention cohort. Findings are interpreted as positive evidence of early program impact. Implications, limitations and future plans for analysis are discussed. EDITORS' STRATEGIC IMPLICATIONS: Starting Well draws on elements of an Australian parent education program and an American home visitation model. The authors demonstrate how the program implementation, research questions, and measurement are designed to fit their Glasgow population and the Scottish public health system. Their quasi-experimental data suggest that this primary prevention program is a promising strategy for improving maternal and child health outcomes.