| Update to child health indicators in PHE general practice profiles Data for child health has recently been updated in the general practice profiles which are designed for GPs, clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) and local authorities. Information about the size of the child population, A&E attendance, hospital admissions for common conditions and outpatient appointments have all been updated. In addition to viewing data for individual practice profiles, you can view summary profiles for CCGs. Each practice can be compared with the CCG and England. This eBulletin includes links to content from a range of different organisations. We do not accept responsibility for the availability, reliability or content of the items included in this eBulletin and do not necessarily endorse the views expressed within them.
Physical activity: applying All Our Health (Public Health England) Evidence and guidance to help healthcare professionals embed physical activity into daily life. Includes updated advice on how to promote the health benefits of physical activity. YoungMinds 360° Schools (YoungMinds) The 360° Schools programme is a one-stop shop for mental health, wellbeing and resilience for the whole school. You will be supported to take a whole school approach and ensure your school achieves best practice in wellbeing and resilience. The training and resources will give you the skills, knowledge and confidence to make a difference. The programme can help you to equip pupils, parents and your wider school community with the tools they need to build their resilience and improve wellbeing. Health and care professionals: Your lifestyle referrals can create a force for change (Public Health England) This blog looks at making effective referrals and is part of a short series addressing the contribution health and care professionals can make to improving health and wellbeing. It's good to talk: Making the most of our conversations (Public Health England) This blog looks at starting conversations about health and is part of a short series addressing the contribution health and care professionals can make to improving health and wellbeing. It looks at some of the resources available to help professionals have conversations with members of the public, whether offering brief advice through to longer term health coaching. Health and care professionals: Make prevention your healthy New Year's resolution (Public Health England) This blog looks at the prevention agenda and is part of a short series addressing the contribution health and care professionals can make to improving health and wellbeing. Help available from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) for people who are victims of domestic violence and abuse (Department for Work and Pensions) This guide provides information for victims of domestic violence and abuse about the services and support offered by the DWP. Change4Life: Healthier snacks for kids (Public Health England) Public Health England have launched a Change4Life campaign around children's snacking which encourages parents to 'look for 100-calorie snacks, two a day max' to cut children's sugar intake. Health protection in schools and other childcare facilities (Public Health England) A practical guide for staff on managing cases of infectious diseases in schools and other childcare settings. Guidance has been updated in chapter 4: what to do if you suspect an outbreak of infection. Modern slavery: a council guide (Local Government Association) The purpose of this guide for councils is to increase awareness of modern slavery and provide clarity for councils on their role in tackling it. Human trafficking is when men, women and children are moved and forced into exploitation. Includes specific reference to children. Sickle cell and thalassaemia: screening handbook (Public Health England) This handbook includes guidance for healthcare professionals who provide counselling and referral for prenatal diagnosis (PND) to couples and women at risk of having a baby with sickle cell disease or thalassaemia major. New sections have been added on: sickle cell and thalassaemia screening overview; antenatal screening - special circumstances; patient societies; failsafe, quality assurance and data collection; support and training. Implementing Better Births: continuity of carer (NHS England) The Maternity Transformation Programme has published practical guidance to help Local Maternity Systems (LMS) plan and deploy continuity of carer models in their services. This document builds on the LMS resource pack and it sets out how to identify an ambition and trajectory for implementation that take account of local circumstances and opportunities. Children's Social Care Innovation Programme grant (Department for Education) These letters from the Department for Education set out: how much funding local authorities are getting as part of the Children's Social Care Innovation Programme; and the purpose of the Children's Social Care Innovation Programme grant. Vaccine update issue 273, December 2017 (Public Health England) The December vaccination newsletter for health professionals and immunisation practitioners describing the latest developments in vaccines, and vaccination policies and procedures. Working with schools to improve the health of school-aged children (Local Government Association) Children spend at least 11 years at school. They are, of course, formative years, laying the foundation for health and wellbeing in adult life. So we should see them as an incredible opportunity for public health. This report from the Local Government Association showcases the work being down by schools and local authorities across the country to improve the health of children. Bullying in childhood and adolescence: we need to do better (The Mental Elf) This blog provides an analysis of a narrative review which looked at the persistent and pervasive impact of being bullied in childhood and adolescence and the implications for policy and practice. Implications for practice include: this review highlights that all those working with children should take the experience of bullying in childhood seriously; there are effective school-based interventions, but these are rarely properly implemented; practitioners should do more to ensure that they detect and respond appropriately to bullying among the children they work with, as well as ensuring that children who have been bullied are offered prompt, effective interventions if and when they need it. CRIDE report on 2016/17 survey on educational provision for deaf children in England (Consortium for Research into Deaf Education (CRIDE)) Research published by the Consortium for Research in Deaf Education (CRIDE) and supported by the National Deaf Children's Society reports on the system for supporting England's 45,000 deaf children. The report, which surveyed almost every authority in England, found more than a quarter of services have one specialist teacher for every 80 students, and in 15% of services there was one teacher for more than 100 students. Figures also show that a third of councils seeking new specialist staff have found it difficult to recruit. Stopping domestic abuse before it starts (NSPCC) The NSPCC's Impact and evidence insights series features a blog by their Development and Impact Manager on stopping domestic abuse before it starts. This explains how the NSPCC's Together for Childhood centres are supporting families to have healthy relationships, which contributes to a long term reduction in all forms of violence. Assessing the health benefits and risks of the introduction of peanut and hen's egg into the infant diet before six months of age in the UK. A joint statement from the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN) and the Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment (COT) (Public Health England) This joint statement outlines the assessment undertaken by the joint SACN-COT working group on the timing of introduction of peanut and hen's egg into the infant diet before 6 months of age in the UK. This paper summarises the findings of the working group and provides consensus advice to government. The benefit-risk assessment indicated that there were insufficient data to demonstrate that the introduction of peanut or hen's egg into the infant diet between four and six months of age reduced the risk of developing food allergy to any greater extent than introduction from around six months. Reasonable data exist to demonstrate that the deliberate exclusion or delayed introduction of peanut or hen's egg beyond six to twelve months of age may increase the risk of allergy to the same foods. World Development Report 2018: Learning to realise education's promise (World Bank) The 2018 World Development Report explores four main themes: education's promise; the need to shine a light on learning; how to make schools work for learners; and how to make systems work for learning. Depression in fathers affects children as much as depression in mothers (The Mental Elf) This blog looks at evidence from two population-based cohorts of the association between depression in fathers and their adolescent children. In two large population-based cohorts, depressive symptoms in fathers during childhood were associated with adolescent depression aged 13-14. This association was independent of, and as strong as, maternal depressive symptoms. It was not affected by confounding factors. Evergreen Life – helping parents take control of their child's health records (Best Beginnings) This blog post describes the Evergreen Life app which makes overseeing your family's health a simpler task. The app allows you to gain access to your medical records in the palm of your hands. Wherever you are, at any time, you can access your GP services online. Poverty sets children up for a life of disadvantage. Let's tackle it in 2018 (The Guardian) The president of the Association of Directors of Children's Services writes in the Guardian about the importance of tackling child poverty. Key points include: children living in poverty are less able to achieve academically and socially in school and are more likely to suffer from poor health than their peers; it's important to provide early help services, which make a huge difference in the lives of children and families. Life in likes: Children's Commissioner report into social media use among 8-12 year olds (Children's Commissioner) This Children's Commissioner's report on the effects of social media on 8-to-12-year-olds examines the way children use social media and its effects on their wellbeing. 'Life in Likes' fills a gap in research showing how younger children use platforms which social media companies say are not designed for them. Whilst most social media sites have an official age limit of 13 years, some research has suggested ¾ of 10-to-12 year olds have a social media account. While 8-10s use social media in a playful, creative way – often to play games – this changes significantly as children's social circles expand as they grow older. This report shows that many Year 7 children are finding social media hard to manage and becoming over-dependent on 'likes' and 'comments' for social validation. They are also adapting their offline behaviour to fit an online image, and becoming increasingly anxious about 'keeping up appearances' as they get older. 'Pupil mental health crisis?' Survey report 2017. Examining the current state of mental wellbeing in young people and children in the UK (Hub4Leaders) A survey of 603 school leaders and governors by Leeds Beckett University's Carnegie Centre of Excellence for Mental Health in Schools, in partnership with Hub4Leaders, found that 65 per cent said there is still no dedicated staff member in their school who is trained in or given responsibility for pupils' mental health. Research briefing: harmful sexual behaviour (NSPCC) This briefing from NSPCC aims to help professionals update their knowledge of the most recent research on harmful sexual behaviour (HSB). It highlights the key messages from articles published in academic journals, chapters in edited books and reports from specialist organisations, which were published in 2016 or 2017. Evaluation of the Domestic Abuse, Recovering Together (DART) service: helping mothers rebuild relationships with their children after domestic abuse (NSPCC) The NSPCC has published an evaluation of how it supports other agencies to deliver its Domestic Abuse, Recovering Together (DART) service for children and mothers who experienced domestic abuse. Findings include: professionals were enthusiastic about DART and said they felt confident about delivering the programme after training. Barriers to running the DART programme included problems with funding, staffing, transport, venues and issues with taking children out of school. Mothers who have lived with an abusive partner may underestimate the effects of the abuse on their children. DART provides joint sessions for mothers and children to do activities together that help them talk about their experiences and feelings. This primary focus on relationships between mothers and children is unique to DART. Admissions of inequality: emergency hospital use for children and young people. Briefing (Nuffield Trust) This briefing looks at the relationship between deprivation and the use of emergency hospital care by children and young people in England (between 2005/6 and 2015/16). It aims to describe and highlight areas of inequality and to explore how they have changed over time. As well as looking at the overall patterns of emergency hospital use, it focuses on three common conditions – asthma, diabetes and epilepsy – where more timely and effective primary, community or outpatient care could prevent admissions. The briefing finds that while there has been progress in reducing the rate of emergency admissions for the most deprived children, a stubborn gap remains between rich and poor: children and young people from the most deprived areas are consistently more likely both to go to A&E and to need emergency hospital treatment than children from the least deprived areas. Responding to child sexual abuse and exploitation in the night-time economy (Centre of Expertise on Child Sexual Abuse) The Centre of Expertise on Child Sexual Abuse has published findings from a study carried out by NatCen Social Research looking at what workers in night-time economy – businesses and services that have direct contact with the public after 6pm – know and do about child sexual exploitation (CSE), and child sexual abuse (CSA). The study of 126 night economy workers found that: perceptions of risk ranged from high to none at all across the industries and roles; not all workers in the night-time economy feel equipped to recognise and respond to the warning signs; levels of training, information and support around CSE varied across industry sectors; and that training is not widespread across the night-time economy. While your back was turned: how mental health policymakers stopped paying attention to the specific needs of women and girls (Mental Health Foundation) This paper shows that the last 15 years have seen an unprecedented rise in reported mental health problems amongst young women and girls. Drawing on recent work by others in civil society, the report makes a series of recommendations for government. This paper will: identify pressure points and social determinants of mental health and wellbeing in young women and girls, to support the development of tailored mental health guidance aimed at preventing mental health problems for those at highest risk; and improve the understanding of how to prevent mental health problems in young women by decision makers. Takeover Challenge 2017: young people share views on relationships and sex education (Public Health England) This blog post describes Public Health England's experience of taking part in the Children Commissioner's Takeover Day Challenge (24 November 2017). PHE handed the reins over to 5 young people for an interactive day which started with a lively discussion at their 5-24yrs Board and key priorities to improve the health and wellbeing for young people. They then moved into more focused discussions on Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) and Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education (PSHE). A 'watershed' moment: why it's prime time to protect children from junk food adverts (Obesity Health Alliance) While the causes of childhood obesity are multi-factorial, there is a wealth of evidence showing the detrimental impact that advertising of food and drink products high in fat, sugar and salt (HFSS) has on driving unhealthy food choices and, as a result, rules are in place that aim to prevent children from seeing these adverts. However these rules do not reflect children's viewing patterns and therefore fail to adequately protect children from exposure to HFSS advertising. The report makes recommendations. The report makes recommendations on how children should be protected from exposure to adverts for HFSS foods and drinks. National Citizen Service evaluation report 2016 (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport) The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport commissioned an independent provider to conduct an evaluation of the National Citizen Service (NCS). NCS is a Government-backed initiative that brings together young people aged 15 to 17 from different backgrounds, giving them the chance to undertake a programme of personal and social development and community action. The findings show the positive impact NCS has had on young people in relation to social mobility, social cohesion and social engagement. The evaluation reports that the NCS programme delivers good value for money. How does the time children spend using digital technology impact their mental well-being, social relationships and physical activity? An evidence-focused literature review. Innocenti Discussion Paper 2017-02 (UNICEF Office of Research - Innocenti) Based on an evidence-focused literature review, the first part of this paper examines existing knowledge on how the time children spend using digital technology impacts their well-being across three dimensions; mental/psychological, social and physical. The evidence reviewed here is largely inconclusive with respect to impact on children's physical activity, but indicates that digital technology seems to be beneficial for children's social relationships. In the second part of the paper, the hypothetical idea of addiction to technology is introduced and scrutinized. This is followed by an overview of the hypothetical idea that digital technology might re-wire or hijack children's brains; an assumption that is challenged by recent neuroscience evidence. In conclusion, considerable methodological limitations exist across the spectrum of research on the impact of digital technology on child well-being, including the majority of the studies on time use reviewed here, and those studies concerned with clinical or brain impacts. This prompts reconsideration of how research in this area is conducted.
Further child and maternal health data can be found on Public Health England's Fingertips tool. The child and maternal health section brings together a range of publicly available data, information, tools and resources. Find guidance on using these statistics and other intelligence resources to help you make decisions about the planning and provision of child and maternal health services on.GOV.UK. NCMP local authority profile: academic year 2016 to 2017 update (Public Health England) The NCMP Local Authority Profile online data tool has been updated. This annual update adds data for the 2016 to 2017 academic year. It also includes: a new 'severe obesity' indicator, not reported on separately before; and new trend data for boys and girls in England showing obesity prevalence and excess weight prevalence. The tool displays prevalence of obesity, overweight, healthy weight and underweight at local, regional and national level over time; for children in Reception (aged 4 to 5 years) and Year 6 (aged 10 to 11 years). Pertussis vaccination programme for pregnant women update: vaccine coverage (England), July to September 2017 (Public Health England) Vaccine uptake data and commentary relating to the pertussis (whooping cough) vaccination programme for pregnant women. Maternity services monthly statistics, August 2017 (NHS Digital) August 2017 monthly publication of experimental statistics from the Maternity Services Data Set (MSDS). The MSDS is a patient-level 'secondary uses' data set that re-uses clinical and operational data for purposes other than direct patient care, such as commissioning and clinical audit. It captures key information at each stage of the maternity service care pathway in NHS-funded maternity services, such as those provided by GP practices and hospitals. The data collected include mother's demographics, booking appointments, admissions and re-admissions, screening tests, labour and delivery along with baby's demographics, diagnoses and screening tests. This release includes the first publication of birth weight data from the MSDS. Childcare and early years survey of parents: 2017 (Department for Education) This publication from the Department for Education provides information on a survey of parents with children aged 0 to 14 (January 2017 to August 2017). It covers parents' use of childcare and early years provision, and their views and experiences. Sexually transmitted infections (STIs): annual data tables (Public Health England) This data provides information on trends in sexually transmitted infections diagnoses, including numbers and rates of diagnoses by various demographic characteristics and by geographical distribution. Key points include: over 1.4 million chlamydia tests were carried out and over 128,000 chlamydia diagnoses were made among young people aged 15 to 24 years; the impact of STIs remains greatest in young heterosexuals 15 to 24 years, black ethnic minorities and gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (MSM). Key messages and recommendations include: statutory, high-quality relationship and sex education in secondary schools will equip young people with the skills to improve their sexual health and overall wellbeing; strengthened local and national prevention activities need to focus on groups at highest risk, including young adults, black ethnic minorities and MSM. The full versions of some of these resources may only be available with a paid subscription. Contact your local library service or Athens account administrator to see if you are able to access them through your organisation.
Engaging families in the management of adolescent self-harm (Evidence-Based Mental Health) Background: Adolescent self-harm is an emerging public health challenge. It is associated with later psychiatric and substance use disorders, unemployment and suicide. Family interventions have been effective in a range of adolescent mental health problems and for that reason were reviewed for their effectiveness in the management of adolescent self-harm. Conclusions: Early involvement of the family, an evaluation of the risks at the end of an acute crisis episode and a stepped-care model taking into account level of suicide risk and resources available to an adolescent and her/his family are likely to promote better outcomes in adolescents who self-harm. Substance use through adolescence into early adulthood after childhood-diagnosed ADHD: findings from the MTA longitudinal study (The Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry) Background: Inconsistent findings exist regarding long-term substance use risk for children diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The observational follow-up of the Multimodal Treatment Study of Children with ADHD (MTA) provides an opportunity to assess long-term outcomes in a large, diverse sample. Conclusions: Frequent substance use for young adults with childhood ADHD is accompanied by greater initial exposure at a young age and slightly faster progression. Early substance use prevention and screening is critical before escalation to intractable levels. Valuing breastfeeding: a qualitative study of women's experiences of a financial incentive scheme for breastfeeding (BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth) Background: A cluster randomised controlled trial of a financial incentive for breastfeeding conducted in areas with low breastfeeding rates in the UK reported a statistically significant increase in breastfeeding at 6–8 weeks. In this paper the authors report an analysis of interviews with women eligible for the scheme, exploring their experiences and perceptions of the scheme and its impact on breastfeeding to support the interpretation of the results of the trial. Conclusions: The scheme was acceptable to women, who perceived it as rewarding and valuing them for breastfeeding. Women reported that the scheme could raise awareness of breastfeeding and encourage its normalisation. This provides a possible mechanism of action to explain the results of the trial. Exercise training during pregnancy reduces circulating insulin levels in overweight/obese women postpartum: secondary analysis of a randomised controlled trial (the ETIP trial) (BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth) Background: The primary aim was to investigate if supervised exercise training during pregnancy could reduce postpartum weight retention three months after delivery in overweight and obese women. The study also measured circulating markers of cardiometabolic health, body composition, blood pressure, and physical activity level. Conclusions: Offering supervised exercise training during pregnancy among overweight/obese women did not affect postpartum weight retention three months after delivery, but reduced circulating insulin levels. This was probably due to a higher proportion of women being active postpartum in the exercise group. Characteristics of positive-interaction parenting style among primiparous teenage, optimal age, and advanced age mothers in Canada (BMC Pediatrics) Background: Positive-interaction parenting early in childhood is encouraged due to its association with behavioural development later in life. The objective of this study was to examine if the level of positive-interaction parenting style differs among teen, optimal age, and advanced age mothers in Canada, and to identify the characteristics associated with positive-interaction parenting style separately for each age group. Conclusion: Characteristics associated with positive-interaction parenting varied among the three age groups. Findings may have public health implications through information dissemination to first-time mothers, clinicians, researchers, and public health facilities. Association between physical exercise and psychosocial problems in 96 617 Dutch adolescents in secondary education: a cross-sectional study (European Journal of Public Health) Background: Psychosocial problems negatively affect school performance, social skills and mental development. In recent years, researchers have investigated the relationship between physical activity and psychological health. With this large school-based study, the authors examined whether physically inactive adolescents and slightly active adolescents experience more psychosocial problems compared with active adolescents. Conclusion: Physically active adolescents have fewer psychosocial problems compared with physically inactive adolescents. Not only is this association significant, but there is an indication that it is also of clinical relevance. Perceptions of pregnancy preparation in women with a low to intermediate educational attainment: a qualitative study (Midwifery) Objective: In the promotion of periconceptional health, appropriate attention has to be given to the perceptions of those who are most vulnerable, such as women with a relatively low socioeconomic status based on their educational attainment. The aim of this study was to explore these women's perceptions of pregnancy preparation and the role they attribute to healthcare professionals. Highlights: Participants mentioned relevant lifestyle-related ways to prepare for pregnancy. Pregnancy preparation was often associated with issues on fertility and conception. Barriers to adequate pregnancy preparation include limited control and skepticism. Proactive custom-made preconception care could aid socioeconomically vulnerable women. Exploring young pregnant smokers' experiences with a self-nominated non-smoking buddy (Midwifery) Background: Psychosocial interventions can increase the proportion of women who stop smoking in pregnancy. There is limited research exploring self-nominated, non-smoking buddy support, to assist young pregnant smokers to quit. Conclusion: The findings reveal the complexity of incorporating non–smoking buddy support into smoking cessation programs for young pregnant smokers. The characteristics and social environment of individual women may have the capacity to influence their ability to engage and sustain a relationship with a non-smoking buddy. Barriers to physical activity in urban school children with asthma: parental perspective (Academic Pediatrics) Objective: Physical activity levels are low in today's youth and may even be lower in those with asthma. Barriers to physical activity have not been well studied in inner-city, minority children with asthma. The authors conducted a qualitative study to characterize parental perceptions of barriers to physical activity and ways to improve physical activity levels in children with asthma. Conclusions: The results indicate a complex multi-level set of barriers to physical activity in children with asthma. Addressing these barriers by involving stakeholders at the family, school and community levels may improve physical activity levels in children with asthma. Youth with chronic health problems: how do they fare in main-stream mentoring programs? (BMC Public Health) Background: Youth with chronic physical health problems often experience social and emotional problems. This study investigates the relationship between participation in the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada community-based mentoring programs (BBBS) and youth social and mood outcomes by youth health status. Conclusion: Youth with chronic health problems, particularly those with activity limitation as well, demonstrate a capacity to experience social and mood benefits associated with mentoring. International trends in 'bottom-end' inequality in adolescent physical activity and nutrition: HBSC study 2002–2014 (European Journal of Public Health) Background: In spite of many positive trends that have emerged in the health of young people, adolescents from more affluent groups continue to experience more favourable health outcomes. There are no groups that are more vulnerable than those who report very poor ('bottom-end') indicators of health behaviour. The present study investigated the role of socio-economic factors as potential determinants of bottom-end health behaviours pertaining to physical activity and diet. Conclusion: Although it is important to continue monitoring average levels of adolescent health, national and international policies need to pay attention to the concentration of poor health outcomes among adolescents from less affluent families and to redress social inequalities in adolescent health behaviour. A study of subjective well-being and life satisfaction in Italy: how are children doing at 8 years of age? (Child Indicators Research) Background: The paper presents a portion of the first findings of the International Survey of Children's Well-being (ISCWeB) study, which was performed in Italy. The primary purpose of the ISCWeB project was to consider the subjective well-being of children and to achieve a comprehensive understanding of their lives, focusing on their own perceptions and evaluations. This work aimed to learn more about the subjective well-being of 8-year-old Italian children. Results: Overall, a high degree of children's subjective well-being emerged. No differences were found between males and females on overall subjective well-being, while gender statistically significant differences were found in the life domains of family and school. Moreover, the results revealed the contribute of gender in moderating the relation between school satisfaction and subjective well-being, finding that higher satisfaction with school life leads to higher subjective well-being for males but not for females. Theoretical, practical and policy implications were discussed. Positive association between sugar consumption and dental decay prevalence independent of oral hygiene in pre-school children: a longitudinal prospective study (Journal of Public Health) Background: Few studies explore how the longitudinal cumulative and combined effects of dietary habits and oral hygiene habits relate to dental decay in very young children. Conclusion: This study has shown that tooth brushing can only in part attenuate the association between snacking and long term sugar consumption on dental decay outcomes in children under 5. Children's early disruptive behavior predicts later coercive behavior and binge drinking by mothers (Journal of Pediatric Nursing) Purpose: This study examined the prospective influence of early child problematic behavior on later coercive interactions and binge drinking by mothers. Highlights: Past research suggests that the parents of children with early problematic behaviors are often in a state of distress. These findings show how early problem behavior in children may increase risk of maternal coerciveness and binge drinking. Parents could benefit from preventive strategies that reduce the strain of caring for young children with behavior problems. Health professionals can arrange for psycho-social support as a standard strategy for unhealthy parenting and behaviors. Why girls choose not to use barriers to prevent sexually transmitted infection during female-to-female sex (Journal of Adolescent Health) Purpose: Using data from a national qualitative study of lesbian, bisexual, and other sexual minority adolescent girls in the U.S., this study examined their awareness of the risk of sexually transmitted infection (STI) and opportunities for barrier use. Conclusions: Addressing knowledge and access gaps is an important first step for improving sexual health. Prevention priorities should focus on helping lesbian and bisexual girls understand their risk of STI transmission in both opposite and same-sex relationships. Tailoring messaging to move beyond heteronormative scripts is critical to engaging lesbian and bisexual girls and equipping them with the skills and knowledge to have safer sex regardless of the sex of their partner. Risk and protective factors of health-related quality of life in children and adolescents: Results of the longitudinal BELLA study (PLOS ONE) Aims: Cross-sectional studies demonstrated associations of several sociodemographic and psychosocial factors with generic health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in children and adolescents. However, little is known about factors affecting the change in child and adolescent HRQoL over time. This study investigates potential psychosocial risk and protective factors of child and adolescent HRQoL based on longitudinal data of a German population-based study. Conclusions: The risk factor mental health problems negatively and the resource factors self-efficacy and social support positively affect the development of HRQoL in young people, and should be considered in prevention programs. Implementation of an evidenced-based parenting program in a community mental health setting (Infant Mental Health Journal) Background: The process of mental health intervention implementation with vulnerable populations is not well-described in the literature. The authors worked as a community-partnered team to adapt and pilot an empirically supported intervention program (Mothering from the Inside Out) for mothers of infants and toddlers in an outpatient mental health clinic that primarily serves a low-income community. Key lessons: from this implementation include (a) the importance of formative work to build community relationships and effectively adapt the intervention to meet the needs of the therapists and their clients, (b) the importance of designing plans for training and reflective supervision that fit within the flow of the clinic and can tolerate disruptions, and (c) that use of an interdisciplinary approach is feasible with the development of a plan for communication and the support of a trained reflective clinical supervisor. Interventions to support effective communication between maternity care staff and women in labour: a mixed-methods systematic review (Midwifery) Objectives: The objectives of this review were (1) to assess whether interventions to support effective communication between maternity care staff and healthy women in labour with a term pregnancy could improve birth outcomes and experiences of care; and (2) to synthesize information related to the feasibility of implementation and resources required. Highlights: The review found only two studies on interventions for effective communication. Neither study considered clinical outcomes of interventions. Satisfaction with care was considered in both studies. Neither study presented qualitative data on women's and clinicians' experiences. Current evidence is inadequate to inform content of training or practice. Understanding the connection between attachment trauma and mental self-efficacy in depressed mothers (Infant Mental Health Journal) Background: Maternal self-efficacy predicts sensitive and responsive caregiving. Low maternal self-efficacy is associated with a higher incidence of postpartum depression. Maternal self-efficacy and postpartum depression can both be buffered by social support. Maternal self-efficacy and postpartum depression have both been linked independently, albeit in separate studies, to the experience of violent trauma, childhood maltreatment, and spousal abuse. This study proposed a model in which postpartum depression mediates the relation between attachment trauma and maternal self-efficacy, with emotional support as a moderator. Results: Postpartum depression fully mediated the relation between trauma and maternal self-efficacy. Emotional support moderated only the pathway between postpartum depression and maternal self-efficacy. Attachment trauma's implications for maternal self-efficacy should be understood in the context of overall mental health. Mothers at the greatest risk for low maternal self-efficacy related to attachment trauma also are those suffering from postpartum depression. Emotional support buffered mothers from postpartum depression, though, which has implications for intervention and future research. Therapists' experiences of mother-infant psychoanalytic treatment: a qualitative study (Infant Mental Health Journal) Background: As part of a larger research project in Sweden, a qualitative study investigated psychotherapists' experiences of mother–infant psychoanalysis (MIP). A randomized controlled trial compared two groups of mother–infant dyads with psychological problems. One had received Child Health Center care, and the other received MIP. Conclusions: Therapists worked successfully with mother and infant together and found different ways of cooperation during MIP sessions. Therapists reported overall positive experiences; however, in cases where mothers needed more personal attention, it would be important to adapt the method to them. Blood pressure self-monitoring in pregnancy: examining feasibility in a prospective cohort study (BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth) Background: Raised blood pressure (BP) affects approximately 10% of pregnancies worldwide, and a high proportion of affected women develop pre-eclampsia. This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of self-monitoring of BP in pregnancy in women at higher risk of pre-eclampsia. Conclusions: Self-monitoring of BP in pregnancy is feasible and has potential to be useful in the early detection of gestational hypertensive disorders but maintaining self-monitoring throughout pregnancy requires support and probably enhanced training. Translational research: stressful and overwhelming challenges of children's illness for parents and families (Journal of Pediatric Nursing) Background: When children become ill and are hospitalized, this creates stress in children, their parents, and families and creates multiple challenges – how to help children overcome illness and become well again, how to survive acute life-threatening illness, how to manage uncertainty about the child's prognosis, how to help children meet their developmental demands when challenged by illness and hospitalization, how to provide caregiving for children in hospital and at home, how to live with and provide caregiving to manage chronic conditions how to achieve a new normal. Each of these challenges is inherently overwhelming and stressful for parents and families. The 25 articles in this issue of the Journal of Pediatric Nursing present new evidence and intervention strategies to address the challenges faced by children, their parents and families across the three broad categories: (a) health of adolescents and school-age children; (b) parenting stress and caregiving; and (c) interventions for improving the quality of care for hospitalized children. Improving implementation of the smoking cessation guidelines with pregnant women: what might help clinicians? (Midwifery) Objective: This study aimed to explore the enablers and barriers to implementation of the Australian smoking cessation in pregnancy guidelines. These guidelines direct clinicians to follow the 5As of cessation: Ask, Advise, Assess, Assist and Arrange follow-up. Highlights: Implementation of the smoking cessation in pregnancy guidelines was sub-optimal. Barriers included systems, knowledge and skills gaps and perceiving smoking as a social activity. Enablers included systems, clinicians' communication skills and professional role and identity. Midwifery students' understanding and knowledge of normal birth before 'delivery' of curriculum (Midwifery) Objective: To generate new knowledge that describes and explains the views and understanding, regarding midwifery and normal birth, that newly enrolled midwifery students hold at the commencement of their midwifery education. Highlights: Student's beliefs and perceptions prior to learning are influenced by their previous experiences and the influence of the media. Students have preconceived ideas and a lack of understanding of the role of the midwife. Students need to be aware that birth is not reliant on risk management or student's personal values. New midwifery student need to understand birth is a normal, physiological process. Neonatal outcomes with water birth: a systematic review and meta-analysis (Midwifery) Background: To address gaps in the literature, this review aimed to synthesize the broadest possible collection of evidence regarding neonatal outcomes with hospital water birth to identify any association with poor neonatal outcomes, including associations with specific water birth policies. The specific question was whether water birth was associated with poor neonatal outcomes as measured by APGAR, need for resuscitation, pneumonia, neonatal infection, neonatal respiratory distress, neonatal hypothermia, umbilical pH, shoulder dystocia, cord avulsion, neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admission, and neonatal mortality. Highlights: No evidence of increased odds for any neonatal outcome with water birth; most outcomes are unlikely to change with additional research; waterbirth may reduce odds of bacterial colonization or topical infection. Iodine intake from supplements and diet during pregnancy and child cognitive and motor development: the INMA Mother and Child Cohort Study (Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health) Background: The effect of mild-to-moderate maternal iodine deficiency on the neuropsychological development of their offspring is uncertain. The authors aimed to assess the association between iodine status during pregnancy and the cognitive and motor development of children at 4–5 years. Conclusion: The study found an association between low maternal urinary iodine and lower cognitive scores in childhood, although only when corrected for creatinine, adding to the evidence that iodine deficiency may have potential harmful effects on neurodevelopment. Iodine supplementation does not appear to improve child's neurodevelopment at 4–5 years. Childhood developmental vulnerabilities associated with early life exposure to infectious and noninfectious diseases and maternal mental illness (The Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry) Background: Fetal exposure to infectious and noninfectious diseases may influence early childhood developmental functioning, on the path to later mental illness. Here, the authors investigated the effects of in utero exposure to maternal infection and noninfectious diseases during pregnancy on offspring developmental vulnerabilities at age 5 years, in the context of estimated effects for early childhood exposures to infectious and noninfectious diseases and maternal mental illness. Conclusions: Prenatal exposure to infectious or noninfectious diseases appears to influence early childhood physical, social, emotional and cognitive developmental vulnerabilities that may represent intermediate phenotypes for subsequent mental disorders. A systematic evidence synthesis of interventions to engage children and young people in consultations about their long-term conditions (Journal of Child Health Care) Background: Children and young people with long-term conditions are not always provided with opportunities to engage fully in consultations. This systematic review examined the effectiveness or worth of methods used to engage children and young people with long-term conditions in their consultations. Conclusions: This review has demonstrated that interventions targeted at children and young people with long-term conditions can improve their levels of engagement in consultations. There is a need for more systematic development and robust evaluation of interventions to improve children's active participation in consultations. Association of timing of weight gain in pregnancy with birth weight (JAMA Pediatrics) Background: This observational cohort study examines the association of maternal weight gain, measured from before pregnancy through gestation, with infant birth weight. Conclusion and relevance: Maternal weight only in the first half of gestation is a determinant of infant birth weight. Before pregnancy and early gestation may be a critical window for intervention to affect subsequent birth weight. Midwives understanding of physical activity guidelines during pregnancy (Midwifery) Objective: To examine the current level of understanding held by midwives regarding the NICE physical activity guidelines in the UK, and to investigate the physical activity guidance given to women during pregnancy. Highlights: Midwives knowledge of the NICE physical activity during pregnancy guidelines is poor. Despite their lack of knowledge of the guidelines, the midwives have a misplaced confidence in answering questions about physical activity during pregnancy. Midwives report access to continual professional development in the area of physical activity during pregnancy is poor. A feasibility study of a multi-dimensional breastfeeding-support intervention in Ireland (Midwifery) Aim: To evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of a multidimensional breastfeeding intervention in a rural and an urban maternity setting in Ireland. Results: Mothers perceived the one-to-one consultation with the lactation consultant during postnatal hospitalization as the most helpful part of the intervention. Inclusion of a support partner was universally viewed positively as a means to support the mother's decision to initiate and continue breastfeeding. Conclusion: This multidimensional intervention is well-accepted and feasible to carry out within an Irish cohort, in both urban and rural areas. Data from this feasibility study will be used to design a randomized controlled trial of a breastfeeding-support intervention. A randomized controlled trial to prevent infant overweight in a high-risk population (Academic Pediatrics) Objectives: The authors hypothesized that parent education, initiated prenatally, and provided in the home, would reduce the incidence of infant overweight at age 12 months. Conclusions: The lack of success of the intervention may be explained in part by a high cesarean section rate in the intervention group, food and employment insecurity, and confounding by breastfeeding promotion, which was available to all mothers. Breastfeeding was the most important mediator of infant overweight. The study supports efforts to vigorously promote breastfeeding. "I just want to do everything right:" Primiparous women's accounts of early breastfeeding via an app-based diary (Journal of Pediatric Health Care) Objective: The objective was to describe the early breastfeeding experience of primiparous women (first-time mothers). Discussion: The primiparous breastfeeding experience is fraught with internally imposed and externally reinforced pressure to produce and persevere despite inadequate breastfeeding support infrastructure. Negative reactions to monitoring: Do they undermine the ability of monitoring to protect adolescents? (Journal of Adolescence) Background: This study focused on adolescents' negative reactions to parental monitoring to determine whether parents should avoid excessive monitoring because adolescents find monitoring behaviors to be over-controlling and privacy invasive. Results: Although monitoring behaviors were not related to depressive symptoms, more negative reactions were linked with more depressive symptoms, suggesting that negative reactions also may increase depressive symptoms as a side effect of monitoring behavior. Negative reactions were not linked to antisocial behavior. There were no longitudinal links between negative reactions and changes in disclosure, antisocial behavior, or depressive symptoms. Concurrent and longitudinal associations among temperament, parental feeding styles, and selective eating in a preschool sample (Journal of Pediatric Psychology) Objective: To examine the associations among negative/reactive temperament, feeding styles, and selective eating in a sample of preschoolers because preschool eating behaviors likely have lasting implications for children's health. Results: A series of regressions indicated that children who had temperaments high in negative affectivity were significantly more likely to experience instrumental and emotional feeding styles. They were also significantly more likely to be selective eaters. Conclusions: This study provides a novel investigation of child temperament and eating behaviors, allowing for a better understanding of how negative affectivity is associated with instrumental feeding, emotional feeding, and selective eating. These results inform interventions to improve child health. Overweight in children and its perception by parents: cross-sectional observation in a general pediatric outpatient clinic (BMC Pediatrics) Objective: This study aimed to determine factors associated with childhood overweight and parental misperception of weight status. The height and weight of children, as reported by parents were compared with measured data. Conclusions: Pediatricians should bear in mind that parental assessment often differs from the measured weight of their children. Hence children should be weighed and measured regularly to prevent them from becoming overweight. This is of particular importance in children with higher birth weight and children of overweight parents. Potential combined effects of maternal smoking and coffee intake on foetal death within the Danish National Birth Cohort (European Journal of Public Health) Background: Several studies have linked coffee intake and smoking to foetal death, but a possible interaction between both exposures remains unknown. The authors studied, within the Danish National Birth Cohort, the potential interaction between smoking and coffee drinking while pregnant on the risk of foetal (early and late) death. Conclusion: The results suggest that the combined effect of smoking and coffee intake during pregnancy on the risk of foetal death is coffee-dose-dependent. A low coffee intake may reduce the risk of foetal death associated with smoking while a high coffee intake increases the risk. Implementation of guidelines for multidisciplinary team management of pregnancy in women with pre-existing diabetes or cardiac conditions: results from a UK national survey (BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth) Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the implementation of guidelines for multidisciplinary team (MDT) management in pregnant women with pre-existing diabetes or cardiac conditions. Conclusions: The wide diversity of organisational management for women with pre-existing diabetes or cardiac conditions is of concern and merits more detailed inquiry. Evidence is also required to support and better define the recommendations for MDT care. Maternal depressive symptoms during and after pregnancy are associated with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder symptoms in their 3- to 6-year-old children (PLOS ONE) Background: Maternal depressive symptoms during pregnancy have been associated with child behavioural symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in early childhood. However, it remains unclear if depressive symptoms throughout pregnancy are more harmful to the child than depressive symptoms only during certain times, and if maternal depressive symptoms after pregnancy add to or mediate any prenatal effects. Conclusions: Maternal depressive symptoms throughout pregnancy are associated with increased ADHD symptomatology in young children. Maternal depressive symptoms after pregnancy add to, but only partially mediate, the prenatal effects. Preventive interventions suited for the pregnancy period may benefit both maternal and offspring mental health. Estimating the population impact of a new pediatric influenza vaccination program in England using social media content (Journal of Medical Internet Research) Background: The rollout of a new childhood live attenuated influenza vaccine program was launched in England in 2013, which consisted of a national campaign for all 2 and 3 year olds and several pilot locations offering the vaccine to primary school-age children (4-11 years of age) during the influenza season. The 2014/2015 influenza season saw the national program extended to include additional pilot regions, some of which offered the vaccine to secondary school children (11-13 years of age) as well. The authors utilized social media content to obtain a complementary assessment of the population impact of the programs that were launched in England during the 2013/2014 and 2014/2015 flu seasons. The overall community-wide impact on transmission in pilot areas was estimated for the different age groups that were targeted for vaccination. Results: Results suggest a reduction in ILI rates of 14% (1-25%) and 17% (2-30%) across all ages in only the primary school-age vaccine pilot areas during the 2013/2014 and 2014/2015 influenza seasons, respectively. No significant impact was observed in areas where two age cohorts of secondary school children were vaccinated. Conclusions: These findings corroborate independent assessments from traditional surveillance data, thereby supporting the ongoing rollout of the program to primary school-age children and providing evidence of the value of social media content as an additional syndromic surveillance tool. Effect of the Affordable Care Act on breastfeeding outcomes (American Journal of Public Health) Objective: To assess how the 2012 Affordable Care Act (ACA) policy change, which required most private health insurance plans to cover lactation-support services and breastfeeding equipment (without cost-sharing), affected breastfeeding outcomes. Conclusions: Reducing barriers to receiving support services and breastfeeding equipment shows promise as part of a broader effort to encourage breastfeeding, particularly the duration of breastfeeding and the amount of time before formula supplementation. Are school factors and urbanization supportive for being physically active and engaging in less screen-based activities? (International Journal of Public Health) Objectives: The aim was to assess the association between physical activity and screen-based activities in adolescents and selected school factors and urbanization and whether these associations were modified by degree of urbanization and whether these associations were modified by degree of urbanization. Conclusions: School environment and degree of urbanization are associated with adolescents' physical activity and screen-based activities. This holds positively for access to an area for skating/tennis court and negatively for active breaks regarding physical activity and for living in villages regarding less use of screens. Preterm birth, poverty, and cognitive development (Pediatrics) Objective: This study investigated whether the relationships between preterm and early term birth and children's cognitive scores at 3, 5, and 7 years old were modified by childhood poverty. Conclusions: Although children born preterm who lived in poverty had the poorest cognitive outcomes, living in poverty did not magnify the adverse effect of being preterm on cognitive development. A longitudinal, person-centered analysis of Early Head Start mothers' parenting (Infant Mental Health Journal) Background: This study used a person-centered approach to examine stability and change in parenting typologies across early childhood. Results suggested a four-profile solution at each time point: Supportive, Lukewarm (14 & 24 months)/Sufficient (36 months and pre-K), Harsh, and Detached. Supportive was the largest, most stable, and most likely transitioned into profile while Harsh and Detached represented rare profiles with moderate to low membership stability across time. Depression and family conflict emerged as important correlates of unsupportive parenting profiles both within and across time. Findings are discussed in terms of their relevance for both policy and implementation practices for low-income mothers with young children. Pregnancy leisure physical activity and children′s neurodevelopment: a narrative review (BJOG) In recent years, interest in the relationship between maternal physical activity during pregnancy and children's neurocognitive development has been growing. Several observational studies and clinical trials have analysed this relationship and they differ in the findings, especially for children's language related skills and IQ. Physical activity assessment, amount of physical activity and the test used for measuring children's cognition could affect this relationship, as well as other factors that should be considered. This article reviews the evidence on the effects of physical activity during pregnancy on children's different cognitive domains. Effectiveness of Implementing initial education strategies to promote awareness and healthy habits in childhood obesity: a quality improvement project Journal of Pediatric Health Care) Background: Rising incidence and prevalence of childhood obesity and related costly health consequences suggest the need for an effective training tool at the primary care level. Evidence-based studies show how a healthy diet and physical activity help reduce the incidence of obesity. Conclusion: After receiving education on the importance of healthy lifestyle changes with regard to nutrition and physical activity, pediatric patients adopted better diet and physical activity habits. However, there was little effect on reducing body mass index in a 3-month timeframe. A review of adolescent autobiographical memory and the implications for assessment of unaccompanied minors' refugee determinations (Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry) Background: The number of unaccompanied asylum-seeking children (UASC) is increasing, and unlike those who arrive with their parents, UASC are subject to interview to determine refugee status. The limited amount of objective evidence available in most asylum claims means that the UASC's account of their experiences often becomes key in deciding whether or not the young person is granted protection. Research indicates that assumptions about human memory influence decision-makers' views on asylum seekers' accounts; however, these do not necessarily appear to fit with the published research on autobiographical memory and may lead to an unfair decision. A literature review of published research on autobiographical memory among adolescents was undertaken across four databases. Conclusions: From this review, conclusions are drawn about what can be reasonably expected of an adolescent's autobiographical memory generally and more specifically when the unique characteristics of UASC are taken into account. It is important that the psychological evidence on the nature of autobiographical memory in adolescents is considered in asylum processing of UASC. Perceived control of anxiety as a moderator in the relationship between anxiety sensitivity and problematic alcohol use among adolescents (Journal of Adolescence) Objective: This study examined perceived control over anxiety as a moderator in the relationship between anxiety sensitivity and (1) alcohol use frequency and (2) binge drinking frequency among 80 community-recruited adolescents. Results indicated significant interactions between AS and perceived control. More specifically, when perceived control was low, higher anxiety sensitivity was related to increased frequency of alcohol use days, but not with binge drinking days. Alternatively, when perceived control over anxiety was high, elevated anxiety sensitivity was associated with a decreased in binge drinking days, but not with alcohol use days. Findings: Findings suggest that influence of perceived control over anxiety may be another important, malleable factor that should be considered in future etiological and intervention-oriented work targeting anxiety sensitivity and alcohol misuse among adolescence. Racial and ethnic differences in the prevalence of adverse childhood experiences: findings from a low-income sample of U.S. women (Child Abuse & Neglect) Background: Despite great interest in adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), there has been limited research on racial and ethnic differences in their prevalence. Prior research in the United States suggests that the prevalence of ACEs varies along socioeconomic lines, but it is uncertain whether there are racial/ethnic differences in ACE rates among low-income populations. This study examined the distribution of ACEs in a sample of 1523 low-income women in Wisconsin that received home visiting services. Conclusions: This study demonstrated that ACEs were prevalent in a racially and ethnically diverse sample of low-income women. Further research is needed to describe and explain racial/ethnic variation in ACEs. Changes to teaching of sex and relationship education, and PSHE. Open consultation (Department for Education) The Department for Education is considering how to update the existing sex and relationship guidance which was last updated in 2000. The updated guidance will support schools in delivering the new subjects of Relationships Education at primary and Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) at secondary, as well as, potentially, Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education (PSHE). The consultation closes on 12 February 2018. | 
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