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Parent-reported infant health and illness in a whole year birth cohort
1School of Postgraduate Medical Education, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK. n.j.spencer@warwick.ac.uk
Insights
Parent-reported infant health outcomes at 8 weeks reveal significant prevalence of behavioral issues and acute illnesses. This study provides a comprehensive view of early infant health beyond traditional mortality metrics.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Public Health
- Health Services Research
Background:
- Traditional infant health assessments rely on mortality, hospital admissions, and specific diagnoses.
- A comprehensive understanding of infant health requires incorporating parent-reported experiences and broader morbidity data.
- Parental reporting offers valuable insights into infant well-being and illness experiences.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe parent-reported infant health and illness experiences at 8 weeks of age.
- To establish period prevalences and incidences of various infant health outcomes.
- To provide a more comprehensive picture of infant health using validated parent-reported measures.
Main Methods:
- A prospective, whole-year birth cohort study in Coventry.
- Utilized the Warwick Child Health and Morbidity Profile (WCHMP) administered by health visitors.
- Collected data on 2072 infants at 8 weeks, with adjustments for differential cohort attrition.
Main Results:
- Prevalence of "not very healthy/unhealthy" was 19/1000 infants.
- Acute illnesses requiring medical attention affected 66/1000, with 43/1000 hospital admissions.
- Behavioral problems were reported in 78/1000 infants, and minor illnesses in 87/1000.
Conclusions:
- Parent-reported data offer a more comprehensive assessment of infant health than traditional measures.
- This study is the first to report on infant health and illness experience in a whole-year birth cohort using a validated parent-reported measure.
- The findings provide a robust basis for infant health needs assessment and targeted interventions.
Objective:
To describe parent-reported infant health and illness experience at 8 weeks.
Setting:
Coventry.
Study Design:
Prospective whole year birth cohort.
Outcome Measures:
Period prevalences (birth to 8 weeks) and incidences, unadjusted and adjusted for differential cohort attrition, of parent-reported infant health outcomes.
Methods:
Of 3891 live births in 1996, 2572 (66%) were recruited into the study. Data were collected by health visitors as part of routine child health surveillance, at 8 weeks using the Warwick Child Health and Morbidity Profile (WCHMP) incorporated into the Parent Held Record. Period prevalences and incidences of parent-reported health outcomes in the first 8 weeks of life were calculated with and without adjustment for the effects of different rates of cohort attrition by sociodemographic group.
Results:
Data were collected on 2572 infants at recruitment. Health outcome data were available on 2072 (53% of all 1996 live births) infants at 8 weeks. There was differential attrition by social group between enrollment and 8 weeks. Nineteen (95% confidence intervals (CIs) 14,24)/1000 infants were reported as not very healthy/unhealthy, 12 (95% CIs 8,16)/1000 as having impaired health-related quality of life and 11 (95% CIs 7,15)/1000 impaired functional health. Chronic illness had a period prevalence rate of 19 (95% CIs 14,24)/1000. Sixty-six (95% CIs 55,77)/1000 had acute illnesses requiring medical attention and 43 (95% CIs 34,52)/1000 were admitted to hospital at least once. More minor illness than expected was reported in 87 (95% CIs 75,99)/1000. The incidence rate of accidents requiring medical attention was 16 (95% CIs 9,21)/1000. Behavioural problems had a prevalence rate of 78 (95% CIs 66,90)/1000.
Conclusions:
Infant health status data have traditionally been based on mortality, hospital admissions and specific diagnoses. This is the first report of health and illness experience during infancy in a whole year birth cohort based on a validated measure of parent-reported health status incorporated into the Parent Held Record and administered by the family health visitor as part of routine child health surveillance. These data give a more comprehensive picture of infant health and illness experience than traditional measures and provide the basis for infant health needs assessment.