Executive summary
Introduction
Since 1997, the Centre for Epidemiology and Evidence has been conducting surveys of state residents using computer assisted telephone interviewing (CATI). Reports from the NSW Child Health Survey have been produced from data for 2001, 2003-2004, 2005-2006, and 2007-2008. This 2009-2010 Summary Report includes information on the health of 4,182 NSW residents aged 0-15 years.
The survey included questions used in previous surveys and new questions developed specifically for 2009-2010. All new questions were submitted to NSW Health's Population and Health Services Research Ethics Committee for approval. New questions were also f ield-tested prior to inclusion. The instrument was translated into 5 languages: Arabic, Chinese, Greek, Italian, and Vietnamese.
In 2009-2010, interviews were carried out continuously between February and December. Households were sampled using list-assisted random digit dialling. When a household was contacted, one person was randomly selected for interview. If the selected respond ent was a child under the age of 16 years, a parent or carer was selected as a proxy respondent. Parents or carers were asked a sub-set of questions depending on the age of their child. For example, questions on breastfeeding were asked of parents of child ren aged 0-23 months, questions on maternal folate were asked of mothers of children aged 0-11 months, questions on physical activity were asked of parents or carers of children aged 5-15 years, and questions on sun protection were asked of parents or care rs of children aged 0-15 years.
The survey data have been weighted to account for probabilities of selection, as well as post-stratification, to match the survey sample to the NSW population. Results are reported by age group, sex, quintile of socioeconomic disadvantage, metropolitan and rural-regional health districts, mothers' characteristics, and year (when available).
The indicators in this report are presented in graphical form (in the PDF and HTML versions) and in graphical and tabular form (in the HTML version). In most cases, trend data are presented from the base year; that is, from the first year data were collect ed for that indicator. In the HTML version, the table below the chart presents further information. Both the PDF and HTML versions can be obtained from the New South Wales Population Health Survey website at www.health.nsw.gov.au/publichealth/surveys/index .asp.
Health behaviours influence child health and wellbeing from the antenatal period and beyond. Parental health behaviours directly influence children in their early years. Child health behaviours affect later life, because the beginnings of many chronic dise ases may occur in childhood. To monitor these behaviours, this 2009-2010 Summary Report includes information on alcohol during pregnancy, breastfeeding, folate and pregnancy, immunisation, injury prevention (school fire safety programs and infant sl eeping position), nutrition, physical activity (including sedentary behaviour), exposure to environmental tobacco smoke, and sun protection.
Among mothers of infants aged 0-11 months, 72.4 per cent had not consumed alcohol during pregnancy, 19.8 per cent reduced the amount of alcohol they drank, 2.3 per cent tried to give up drinking alcohol but were unsuccessful, 3.3 per cent successfully gave up drinking alcohol, and 2.2 per cent did not try to give up drinking alcohol.
Among children aged 0-23 months, 93.2 per cent had ever been breastfed, 32.3 per cent were breastfed at 12 months, 27.2 per cent were fully breastfed at 6 months, and 21.0 per cent were exclusively breastfed at 6 months.
Among mothers of infants aged 0-11 months, 54.4 per cent took folate supplements 1 month before and during the first trimester of pregnancy, 2.7 per cent took supplements 1 month before pregnancy only, and 32.6 per cent took supplements during the first tr imester of pregnancy only.
Among parents or carers of children aged 2 months to 4 years, 64.8 per cent strongly supported childhood vaccination. Among children aged 2 months to 4 years, 94.6 per cent were completely up-to-date with their immunisations.
Among children aged 5-12 years, 76.5 per cent had participated in a fire education program at school, and 64.3 per cent of parents or carers took action on the messages they received from children who attended this program.
Among parents or carers of children aged 0-11 months, 87.7 per cent placed their children on their backs to sleep, the preferred sleeping position for preventing Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.
Among children aged 2-15 years, 72.6 per cent consumed the recommended daily intake of fruit, 43.1 per cent consumed the recommended daily intake of vegetables, and 67.6 per cent consumed the recommended daily intake of dairy products. Overall, 12.6 per ce nt of families ate together at table every day, 61.7 per cent of children hardly ever ate in front of the television, and 90.4 per cent of children ate breakfast every day.
Among children aged 5-15 years, 24.5 per cent did at least 60 minutes of physical activity outside of school hours each day, 45.3 per cent used electronic media for entertainment at home for more than the recommended maximum of 2 hours a day, and 46.1 per cent were driven by car to school each day.
Among children aged 0-15 years, 95.5 per cent lived in smoke-free households, and 96.9 per cent of parents or carers with cars banned smoking in their car.
Overall, 64.2 per cent of children aged 0-15 years did not get sunburnt last summer. Among children aged 0-15 years who went out in the sun last summer, 37.4 per cent always or often sought shade, 55.9 per cent always or aften wore a hat or cap, 12.1 per c ent always or often wore sunglasses, 69.8 per cent always or often wore a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or more, and 54.8 per cent always or often wore protective clothing. Twelve per cent of children were never in the sun last summer.
Among those parents or carers who went out in their local area, 52.8 per cent found it easy to find shade in sporting areas, 68.7 per cent found it easy to find shade in public pools, and 74.5 per cent found it easy to find shade in public parks.
Although New South Wales children are generally healthy, physical and emotional problems can affect their ability to enjoy life and participate in everyday activities. To monitor these problems, this 2009-2010 Summary Report includes information on health-related quality of life (self-rated health), asthma, diabetes or high blood glucose, hearing and vision, mental health, oral health, and population weight status.
According to their parents or carers, 91.3 per cent of children aged 5-15 years had excellent, very good, or good health status.
Among children aged 2-15 years, 22.4 per cent had ever been told by a doctor or hospital they had asthma, and 13.4 per cent currently have asthma (that is, have had symptoms of asthma or treatment for asthma in the last 12 months). Among children with curr ent asthma, 51.9 per cent had a written asthma action plan to assist managing their asthma.
Among children aged 9-15 years, 0.9 per cent had ever been told by a doctor or hospital they had diabetes or high blood glucose; 37.9 per cent had a grandparent, aunt, uncle, or first cousin diagnosed with diabetes; and 8.7 per cent had a parent, brother, or sister diagnosed with diabetes.
Among children aged 0-15 years, 21.5 per cent had their hearing tested less than 1 year ago and 18.1 per cent had their hearing tested 1 year ago to less than 2 years ago.
Among children aged 0-15 years, 35.3 per cent had their eyesight tested less than 1 year ago and 17.1 per cent had their eyesight tested 1 year ago to less than 2 years ago. Overall, 95.6 per cent of children aged 0-15 years had normal vision in both eyes.
According to the Strengths and Difficulty Questionnaire (SDQ), 7.3 per cent of children aged 4-15 years were at substantial risk of developing clinically significant behavioural problems.
Among children aged 5-15 years, 72.8 per cent visited a dental professional in the last 12 months, 7.3 per cent had never visited a dental health professional, and 49.8 per cent had private health insurance for dental expenses.
According to adjusted estimates of BMI calculated from parent-reported height and weight, 3.4 per cent of children aged 2-15 years were underweight, 68.0 per cent were healthy weight, 18.5 per cent were overweight, and 10.1 per cent were obese.
This 2009-2010 Summary Report includes information on health service use and access (including private health insurance and difficulties getting health care), emergency department presentations, hospital admissions, general practices, public dental services, community health centres, early childhood health centres, and home visiting. Satisfaction with these services is also reported.
In the last 12 months, 23.4 per cent of children aged 0-15 years presented to an emergency department, 11.7 per cent were admitted to hospital for at least 1 night, 88.5 per cent visited a general practice, 12.4 per cent attended a public dental service or hospital, 13.4 per cent attended a community health centre, 19.8 per cent did not attend any health services, 55.7 per cent were covered by private health insurance, and 21.7 per cent had difficulties getting health care when needing it. The main types of difficulties were: waiting time for a general practitioner appointment (59.5 per cent), shortage of general practitioners (12.8 per cent), shortage of health services (12.8 per cent), difficulty in accessing specialists (11.3 per cent), emergency departme nt waiting time (9.0 per cent), and quality of treatment (8.6 per cent).
Among parents or carers of children aged 0-15 years who attended a health service in the last 12 months: 82.1 per cent rated their child's emergency department care as excellent, very good or good; 90.7 per cent rated their child's hospital care as excelle nt, very good or good; 95.1 per cent rated their child's general practice care as excellent, very good or good; 94.0 per cent rated their child's public dental service care as excellent, very good or good; and 93.8 per cent rated their child's community he alth service care as excellent, very good or good.
Overall, 37.1 per cent of children aged 0-4 years attended an early childhood health centre in the last 12 months, and 94.2 per cent of parents or carers rated the care their child received as excellent, very good, or good.
Overall, 26.8 per cent of children aged 0-4 years were regularly seeing a baby or early childhood nurse. The mains reasons given for not seeing a baby or early childhood health nurse on a regular basis were: no need to attend anymore (63.4 per cent), use o ther services instead (15.0 per cent), and not useful any more (8.6 per cent).
Among children aged 0-11 months, 77.1 per cent received a home visit from a child or community nurse in the last 12 months. Of these, 97.9 per cent of parents or carers rated their child's care positively: as excellent, very good, or good.
The health and wellbeing of children is strongly influenced by social determinants. To monitor these social determinants, this 2009-2010 Summary Report includes information on early childhood educational development (participation in early childhood activities, childcare, pre-school, and reading), and parental support.
Among children aged 0-5 years, 33.4 per cent currently participate in early childhood activities, and 36.3 per cent currently go to childcare.
Overall, 82.2 per cent of children aged 3-4 years currently attend a pre-school or childcare with a preschool program.
Among parents or carers of children aged 0-5 years, 73.8 per cent read to or looked at books with their child daily, and 5.7 per cent have never read or looked at books with their child.
Overall, 22.6 per cent of parents or carers of children aged 1-15 had ever felt the need for parental support services. Of those, 77.9 per cent used parental support services.
Graphs
| Source: | New South Wales Child Health Survey 2009-2010 (HOIST). NSW Ministry of Health. |
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| Last updated on: | 1 February 2012 |