Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 23, 2026

Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study
09:36

Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study

Published on: February 2, 2017

Trends in the coverage of 'universal' child health reviews: observational study using routinely available data

Rachael Wood1, Alex Stirling, Claire Nolan

  • 1Information Services Division, NHS National Services Scotland, Edinburgh, UK.

BMJ Open
|March 30, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Child health review coverage is high at birth but declines with age, particularly in deprived areas. Equitable access to these universal reviews is crucial for reducing child outcome inequalities.

Area of Science:

  • Public Health
  • Child Health Surveillance
  • Health Equity

Background:

  • Universal child health reviews are vital for monitoring children's health and development in the UK.
  • Recent reductions in review frequency necessitate equitable coverage for maximum impact.
  • Understanding disparities in review uptake is essential for targeted support.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess the coverage of universal child health reviews in Scotland.
  • To examine trends in review coverage over time.
  • To identify inequalities in coverage based on area-based deprivation.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of routinely collected data on two large birth cohorts in Scotland (born 1998/99 and 2007/08).
  • Assessment of review coverage for preschool reviews under previous (five) and current (two) programmes.
  • Examination of coverage disparities by socioeconomic deprivation levels.

Main Results:

  • High coverage for the 10-day review (99%), decreasing significantly for older reviews (e.g., 86% at 39-42 months).
  • Lower review coverage consistently observed in more deprived areas, with widening gaps for older reviews.
  • Coverage rates for remaining reviews have remained stable over time, showing no improvement post-programme changes.

Conclusions:

  • The findings illustrate an 'inverse care law' effect, where universal services show reduced uptake among the most vulnerable populations.
  • Ensuring equitable access to child health reviews is paramount to mitigate socioeconomic inequalities in child health outcomes.
  • Targeted strategies may be needed to improve review uptake in deprived communities and maximize the benefits of universal programmes.
Abstract

More Related Videos

Oral Biofilm Sampling for Microbiome Analysis in Healthy Children10:42

Oral Biofilm Sampling for Microbiome Analysis in Healthy Children

Published on: December 31, 2017

Setup of Consumer Wearable Devices for Exposure and Health Monitoring in Population Studies15:00

Setup of Consumer Wearable Devices for Exposure and Health Monitoring in Population Studies

Published on: February 3, 2023

Related Concept Videos

Purpose of Health Records I01:11

Purpose of Health Records I

The vital purpose of health records is to provide a complete and accurate account of a patient's medical history, including communication, diagnostic and therapeutic orders, care planning, research, and quality review.
Here's a breakdown of how health records serve these purposes:
Methods Of Healthcare Delivery System01:26

Methods Of Healthcare Delivery System

At the different levels of the healthcare system, we see varying methods of healthcare used. These methods include managed care systems, case management, and primary healthcare.
Managed Care System:
The managed care system is designed to control the cost while maintaining the quality of care. The patient's care from admission to discharge is planned by the primary care provider or the case manager, also known as the gatekeeper. In a managed care system, the number of care providers is limited...
Observational Studies01:11

Observational Studies

Observational studies are a type of analytical study where researchers observe events without any interventions. In other words, the researcher does not influence the response variable or the experiment's outcome.
There are three types of observational studies – Prospective, retrospective, and cross-sectional.
Prospective Study
Prospective studies, also known as longitudinal or cohort studies, are carried out by collecting future data from groups sharing similar characteristics. One example of...
Study Designs in Epidemiology01:20

Study Designs in Epidemiology

Epidemiological study designs are fundamental tools for investigating the distribution, determinants, and control of health conditions in populations. They help researchers understand the relationships between exposures and outcomes, and they broadly fall into two categories: "observational" and "experimental" studies.
Observational studies are those where the researcher does not intervene but rather observes natural variations. They include cross-sectional, cohort, and case-control studies.
Bias in Epidemiological Studies01:29

Bias in Epidemiological Studies

Biases can arise at various stages of research, from study design and data collection to analysis and interpretation. Recognizing and addressing these biases is essential to ensure the validity and reliability of epidemiological findings.Broadly speaking, biases in epidemiology fall into three main categories: selection bias, information bias, and confounding. A more detailed description of possible biases is:
Principles of Disease Surveillance01:26

Principles of Disease Surveillance

Disease surveillance is the systematic collection, analysis, and interpretation of health data essential to the planning, implementation, and evaluation of public health practice. This process integrates data dissemination to entities responsible for preventing and controlling disease, injury, and disability. Surveillance systems provide crucial information for action, helping public health authorities make informed decisions to manage and prevent outbreaks, ensure public safety, optimize...