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[Health status survey in a district with many immigrant children]
E K Grøholt1, K K Lie, P T Olsen
1Avdeling for samfunnsmedisin, Statens institutt for folkehelse, Oslo.
Insights
Routine check-ups for four-year-olds in Norway revealed significant differences in eating habits and Norwegian language skills among immigrant children. Encouraging mothers to attend language courses is crucial for preventive health work.
Area of Science:
- Child Health Care
- Public Health
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Prophylactic child health care in Norway is delivered via local mother and child clinics.
- This study focuses on routine check-ups for four-year-olds in a district with a significant immigrant population.
Purpose of the Study:
- To summarize findings from routine health check-ups of four-year-olds, with a focus on immigrant families.
- To identify potential health and developmental disparities in preschool children.
Main Methods:
- A sample of 70 four-year-olds (33 from immigrant families) underwent routine check-ups.
- Data collection included questionnaires completed by healthcare professionals and parents, and the use of a behavioral checklist (BCL).
Main Results:
- Striking differences were observed in the eating habits of immigrant and Norwegian children, despite clinic emphasis on diet.
- Immigrant children exhibited poor Norwegian language skills, linked to their mothers' limited language proficiency.
- Socio-economic disparities between groups necessitate cautious interpretation of findings.
Conclusions:
- Preventive health strategies for immigrant children should prioritize encouraging mothers to participate in Norwegian language courses.
- Addressing maternal language skills is essential for improving child health outcomes and integration.
Abstract:
In Norway, prophylactic child health care is organized through local mother and child clinics, each of which serves a given population. This study summarizes the findings from the routine check-up of four-year-olds in a district with a high proportion of immigrant families. The sample consisted of 70 children, 33 of them from immigrant families. The ordinary check-up was supplemented by information obtained by means of a questionnaire, which was filled in by the public health nurse and the doctor in consultation with the parents. A validated scale, or checklist (BCL), for ordinary behavioural problems among pre-school children was also included. The findings must be interpreted with caution, one reason being the large socio-economic differences between the immigrant and the Norwegian families included in the study. Nevertheless, the difference between the eating habits of the two groups of children was striking, in spite of the emphasis placed on diet at the clinic. Another important finding was the poor knowledge of Norwegian among the immigrant children, which was obviously associated with the poor language skills of the mothers. Therefore, an important element of the preventive health work among immigrant children should be to encourage the mothers to attend courses in Norwegian.