MRC Centre of Epidemiology for Child Health

Parental employment and child health

Does parental employment affect the health of children? It is a main plank of UK policies to reduce child poverty and its associated health inequalities. However, there has been little research on how the different patterns of employment and work that characterise modern families (in their many forms) are associated with children’s health and health inequalities.

The aims of our current research, funded by the Public Health Research Consortium, are to examine how current and recent UK policies relating to employment impact on children’s health, assess the relationship of parental employment with child health up to the age of 7 years and to explore the mechanisms through which relationships between parental employment and child health arise.

Through secondary data analysis of the Millennium Cohort Study, a review of relevant qualitative literature and by primary qualitative research, we will draw out how policy and practice might use this information to promote child health.

Findings from this research will add to our previous studies in this area which have examined maternal employment and indicators of child health and the relationship between maternal employment and health behaviours in 5 year olds.

Principal investigator: Catherine Law

More information: PHRC - In what circumstances can parental employment improve child health?

The health of children in different family structures

Over the past few decades dramatic changes have occurred to the types of families in which children live, including rises in lone parents and step families. Despite this, little is known about how the health of children living in different family structures varies, particularly in young children and in the UK.

We will compare the physical and emotional health of young children living in different family structures, using data from the Millennium Cohort Study. If differences are apparent, then we will investigate whether these are explained by disadvantage (for example poverty and maternal education) and/or other aspects of family circumstances (such as employment and childcare), with a view to identifying risk factors and exposures that are amenable to policy action.

Principal investigator: Catherine Law

More information: Children's Policy Research Unit

Immunisation

Immunisation is proven to be the most effective medical and, after clean water, the most effective public health intervention to protect against potentially serious diseases. Information for parents combined with well-organised and accessible services are key to giving all children the opportunity to have the protection vaccines can provide.

Our research has investigated factors that determine whether a child is completely or partially immunised according to recommended schedules in both population and hospital settings. Our findings have been used to improve services, increase immunisation rates and help health professionals understand and respond to parental questions and concerns.

More information: Immunisation

Lead exposure

Chronic lead poisoning in young children is linked to reduced intelligence and behavioural difficulties. By measuring the level of lead in milk teeth from children participating in the Millennium Cohort Study, this study team will investigate how children's exposure to lead in the environment is affected by where they live, their sex, levels of deprivation, ethnic group and early feeding patterns.

It will also look at how children's lead levels are linked to their physical and mental development. 

Principal investigator: Carol Dezateux

Maternal smoking

There is evidence that smoking during pregnancy has an effect on the development of the fetus, and that the exposure of children to smoke has a negative impact on health.

Our research into maternal smoking focuses on understanding what determines whether or not and where the parents of small children are likely to smoke. Understanding these determinants could help formulate policies that would decrease the exposure of children to smoke. 

Principal investigator: Catherine Law

UK policies to tackle inequalities in child health: why haven’t they worked (better)?

When the UK Labour Government came to power in 1997 its stated commitment to both improving the lives of children and reducing health inequalities was unprecedented.

However, despite systematic and wide-spread investment and policy effort over thirteen years, and an overall improvement in the population’s health, child health inequalities persist. Our research explored the Labour Government’s approaches to reducing child health inequalities and examined why its policies were not more effective.

This was presented by Catherine Law at the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health annual conference and has been accepted for publication in Archives of Disease in Childhood.

Principal investigator: Catherine Law

More information: RCPCH presentation