Chimat Knowledge Update

ChiMat Knowledge Update
25 November 2011 /

Welcome to the ChiMat Knowledge Update highlighting the latest news, events, reports, research and other resources relating to children, young people's and maternal health. All these resources and more are available on the Child and Maternal Health Observatory website
This email includes a summary and link to each resource below.
If you would prefer to read a pdf version of this eBulletin, go to the eBulletins page on the ChiMat website. / Elsewhere on ChiMat
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ChiMat news
Updated and relaunched: Self Assessment Tool – Maternity
This tool helps commissioners, clinical and managerial leads for maternity services to assess progress against standards. It is based on the National Service Framework for children, young people and maternity services and Maternity Matters. It is one of a series of Self Assessment Tools – others cover child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS), infant mortality, NICE neonatal standards, and young people’s mental health transitions.

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In the news
ChiMat does not accept responsibility for the availability, reliability or content of these news items and does not necessarily endorse the views expressed within them.
BBC: Pre-eclampsia predicted using test during pregnancy
A test carried out during pregnancy could predict which women will develop a potentially fatal condition called pre-eclampsia, scientists say.

BBC: Sexual health experts warn of new syphilis threat
Sexual health experts say they are deeply concerned about several outbreaks of syphilis among heterosexual teenagers.

BMJ: Number of children admitted to hospital with viral disease rose markedly last year
Latest NHS figures show a 10% rise in hospital admissions for infectious and parasitic disease in England over the past year. This compares with an overall rise in admissions of 2% in the same period.

UKNSC: Screening Matters Issue 4
The new issue (Sep-Oct 2011) of the UK NSC's Screening Matters newsletter is now available online, with the latest screening policy information, as well as updates on the English national screening programmes and cross-programme work.

RCM: Fewer women are giving birth at home
There has been a fall in the number of women having home births, data published today reveals.

RCM: New study on how midwives cope with trauma
A study is being undertaken into the impact that traumatic birth can have on midwives.

RCM: Food safety worries parents-to-be
Nearly a third of expectant parents are concerned about food safety during pregnancy, according to search data. The British Nutrition Foundation (BNF) have produced an online resource about nutrition and health before, during and after pregnancy.

b-eat: Survey shows increase in link between bullying and eating disorders
A survey of over 600 people by Beat the leading UK eating disorders charity has revealed that 65% felt bullying had contributed to their eating disorder.

NHS Choices: Brain study suggests autism starts in the womb
Children with autism may have too many cells in the brain regions responsible for emotional development, the Daily Mail has reported. This 'Behind the headlines' article examines the evidence behind the report.

NHS Choices: Mobile phones risk discussed
“Mobile phones could be a 'health time bomb', say experts who are urging ministers to warn the public,” the Daily Mail reported. The newspaper said that a leading group of scientists have published a report looking at research into the health risks of using mobiles, in which they state that “the government is underplaying the potentially 'enormous' health risks – especially for children, whose smaller, thinner skulls are more susceptible to radiation”. this 'Behind the headlines' article examines the evidence behind the report.

BBC: Should new dads sleep in hospitals? (video)
Many hospitals are happy for fathers to be present at the birth of their children, but the welcome can soon run out as most men are not allowed to stay overnight with their partner and new baby. BBC Breakfast spoke to parents Emily and Ed MacKenzie, who took part in a pilot scheme at the RoyalUnitedHospital in Bath which allowed Ed to stay overnight when his son was born. They were joined by Rob Williams from the Fatherhood Institute to debate the merits of an increased male role in those first few hours of a child's life.

Guardian: 124 Sure Start centres have closed since coalition took power
The government has confirmed that there are now 124 fewer Sure Start centres for children than there were when the coalition formed last year.

RCM: Improvement needed in community maternity services - new survey reveals women on lower incomes getting poor deal from maternity services
Almost three-quarters of expectant mothers in poverty are not attending antenatal classes according to a survey of mothers on community maternity services by Netmums and the Royal College of Midwives (RCM). It found that many pregnant women on low incomes are getting a poorer deal from our maternity services.

Community Care: Councils fail to keep figures on missing children in care
According to an investigation by 'Community Care', Councils across the country are failing to keep accurate records of children missing from care.

BBC: Delay cord clamping for baby health, say experts
Waiting a few minutes after delivery to cut the umbilical cord is best for a newborn's health, research suggests.

NHS Choices: Childhood IQ 'linked to adult drug use'
Clever children are “likelier to take drugs” according to several newspapers which reported that children who performed better at IQ tests when aged five and 10 are more likely to take illegal drugs such as cannabis and cocaine by the time they are 30. This 'Behind the headlines' article examines the evidence behind the report.

Community Care: Most social workers threatened in past six months
Nearly two-thirds of children's social workers have been threatened by parents in the past six months, according to a survey of more than 600 workers by Community Care and children's services consultancy Reconstruct. The survey paints a picture of frontline workers battling with a constant barrage of threats and abuse and worried that children are being put at greater risk because they are getting little supervision or support in this area. The article includes a link to a guide on how to deal with hostile and aggressive adults or young people and how to manage intimidating situations.

BMJ: UK government disbands advisory group on obesity
The UK government has quietly disbanded its expert advisory group on obesity in a move seen by some as a way to silence independent critical voices.

DH: Further advice needed on vaccinating healthy children against flu
Further evidence is needed before the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) can make a recommendation to the Government on extending the seasonal flu vaccination programme – that is the conclusion from the latest meeting held last month.

CommunityCare: DH and DfE integrate health reforms with Munro
The Department of Health is working with the Department for Education to integrate health reforms with proposals from Eileen Munro's review of child protection.

Guides and Practice
Guide to using quality improvement tools to drive clinical audits
This guidance aims to help implement improvements to health services through quality improvement tools that can be applied to the clinical audit process.

Standards for hospitals providing neonatal intensive and high dependency care (2nd ed) and Categories of babies requiring neonatal care
The Second CSAG (Clinical Standards Advisory Group) Report on Neonatal Intensive Care, published in 1995, included the first edition of this document and a number of additional recommendations. In the light of further changes in the NHS, therapeutic advances and a perceived lack of progress in achieving organisational improvements, the British Association of Perinatal Medicine produced this revised second edition which includes new information where this is available.

Challenging a refusal to assess your disabled child for specialist service
This leaflet has been produced by the Every Disabled Child Matters campaign to help families with disabled children understand their rights and get the support they need.

Tools social workers can use to talk to children
A series of articles on direct work techniques for communicating with, and eliciting information from, young children. These include the use of dolls, observation, games and drawing. There is also an article on writing up direct work in court reports.

Policy and Government Reports
A framework for technology enhanced learning
This framework provides guidance to help commissioners and providers of health and social care deliver high quality, cost effective education, training and continuous development to the workforce for the benefit of patients through the effective use of technology as part of a blended learning process.

Immunisation: the safest way to protect individuals and communities from infectious diseases (website)
The Department of Health's new website for immunisation - aimed at health professionals. The Department’s immunisation team supports the public and health professionals by offering clear, evidence-based information about different diseases, the benefits and side effects of immunisation and available vaccines.

Reports
Surgery in children: are we there yet? (2011)
This NCEPOD (National Confidential Enquiry into Patient Outcome and Death) report highlights the process of care of children less than 18 years of age, including neonates who died within 30 days of emergency or elective surgery on the same admission. The report takes a critical look at areas where the care of patients might have been improved. Remediable factors have also been identified in the clinical and the organisational care of these patients.

Levelling the playing field: Achieving social mobility for 16 and 17-year-olds
In this report Barnardo's highlights the barriers faced by some 16 and 17-year olds to progressing through post-16 education, training and employment. It outlines the cost-effective solutions that can break intergenerational cycles of worklessness and help young people build their own futures. The report makes four key recommendations about making social mobility a reality for these young people. Both the full report and an executive summary can be downloaded from Barnardo's website.

100 days of care: diary entries of children and young people in care, in residential education or receiving social care. Reported by the Children’s Rights Director for England
The Children’s Rights Director has the duty to ask children and young people in care, children who receive any sort of help from council social care services, care leavers and children and young people living away from home in any type of boarding school, residential special school or further education college for their views about their rights, their welfare, and how they are looked after in England. This report provides an insight into the lives of 23 children and young people told through 100 of the diary entries they provided.

Still running 3: early findings from our third national survey of young runaways, 2011
This is the first comprehensive picture of running away for under 16s for six years, also shows that one in five child runaways have begged, stolen or done 'other things' to survive. One in nine (11 per cent) was hurt or harmed on the last occasion they ran. One in six (18 per cent)children said they had slept rough, or stayed with, someone they had just met.

DfE: Number of children's centres by local authority
Local authorities have confirmed that on 8 September 2011 there were 3,507 children’s centres across the country. The DfE published a statistical release in June 2010 that showed there were 3,631 children’s centres in April 2010. Local authorities have informed the Department that the net reduction of 124 children’s centres since April 2010 includes 6 closures with the remainder of the reduction being accounted for by local reorganisations such as the merger of two or more centres.

MHRA Public Assessment Report on revised UK dosing recommendations for liquid paracetamol for children
As previously announced by the MHRA, the UK dosing instructions for children's liquid paracetamol products have been revised, following a review. The introduction of the new dosing instructions and advice began in autumn 2011.

ICDP approach to awareness-raising about children's rights and preventing violence, child abuse, and neglect
In April 2011, the Committee on the Rights of the Child issued the General Comment No. 13 on the right of the child to freedom from all forms of violence. Its Article 19 declares that “protective measures should, as appropriate, include effective procedures for the establishment of social programs to provide necessary support for the child and for those who have the care of the child.” One available social program that focuses on providing support for parents, caregivers and children is the International Child Development Program (ICDP), which is presented in this article.

Multiples in the newborn intensive care unit: parents' and nurses' perspectives
This article reviews the literature pertaining to multiple births and will consider and explore some of the key issues specifically related to higher order multiple (HOM) births from both parent and nursing perspectives. For example, feeding issues are examined, and references are made to the benefits of breastfeeding for mothers and infants as well as current feeding issues requiring attention in the newborn intensive care unit (NICU).

Safe practice in labor and delivery: intrapartum nursing caring of multiples
Labor and delivery units are similar to emergency departments in health care facilities; one never knows who will walk through the door. Being prepared for the unexpected is critical to positive neonatal and maternal outcomes. In this article, the significance of acuity related to intrapartum management and impact of twins and higher order multiples on labor and delivery units is illustrated in case studies which provide insightful, evidence based, and critical nursing assessments to provide safe outcomes for twins and mothers.

Breastfeeding multiples: it can be done
The aim of this article is to address those issues that hinder a mother's desire to breastfeed her twins, triplets, or even quadruplets. The numerous benefits of breastfeeding are elucidated together with guidelines for the health care professional to use in assisting the breastfeeding mother.

Bringing multiples home
Bringing multiples home differs from bringing home a single newborn. Mothers have experienced a more challenging pregnancy; a multiples pregnancy often results in a preterm delivery. As a result, bringing multiples home requires different discharge planning, preparation, and parent education to ensure each multiple receives the nurturing and physical care needed to thrive. This article looks at some of the issues and literature.

Intravenous rehydration in paediatric gastroenteritis
The rehydration of dehydrated children can be seriously challenging. Many factors need to be taken into account when choosing the most appropriate route and method of rehydration, including the setting, equipment, personnel, skill level, volume of patients, and available resources. Fortunately, in the emergency department, all types of rehydration—including oral, nasogastric, and intravenous—should be feasible.

Research
Evaluation of the web-based computer-tailored FATaintPHAT intervention to promote energy balance among adolescents
Objective: To evaluate the short- and long-term results of FATaintPHAT, a Web-based computer-tailored intervention aiming to increase physical activity, decrease sedentary behavior, and promote healthy eating to contribute to the prevention of excessive weight gain among adolescents.

Iron-fortified vs low-iron infant formula: developmental outcome at 10 years
Objective: To assess long-term developmental outcome in children who received iron-fortified or low-iron formula.

Effectiveness of interventions aimed at reducing screen time in children: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Objective: To evaluate the impact of interventions focused on reducing screen time.

Crossing growth percentiles in infancy and risk of obesity in childhood
This study concluded that crossing upwards 2 or more major weight-for-length percentiles in the first 24 months of life is associated with later obesity. Upward crossing of 2 weight-for-length percentiles in the first 6 months is associated with the highest prevalence of obesity 5 and 10 years later. Efforts to curb excess weight gain in infancy may be useful in preventing later obesity.