Abstract
This report, which focuses on the underlying determinants of health for children and young people in New Zealand aims to:
1. Provide a snapshot of progress in many of the areas covered by the HSC’s Inquiry including: child poverty and living standards, housing, early childhood education, oral health, tobacco use, alcohol related harm, and children’s exposure to family violence.
2. Assist those working in the health sector to consider the roles other agencies play in influencing child and youth health outcomes in each of these areas.
3. Assist those working locally to utilise all of the available evidence when developing programmes and interventions to address child and youth health need.
In-depth topics focus on the importance of the very early years, and on developing whole-of-Government, inter-agency approaches to improving outcomes for children and families. Better Health for the New Generation: Getting It Right from the Start: This in-depth topic written by Amanda Kvalsvig, explores the complex ways in which maternal health and wellbeing during pregnancy and even before conception can affect child health. The Effectiveness of Integrated Services (Health, Educational and Social): This in-depth topic written by Nadia Bartholomew, explores the effectiveness of integrated services and how such programmes should be delivered to provide optimal benefit for children and their families.
This report is based on an Indicator Framework developed during the first three years of child health reporting, with each of its indicators being assigned to one of four sections as follows:
1. The Wider Macroeconomic and Policy Context
2. Socioeconomic and Cultural Determinants
3. Risk and Protective Factors
4. Health Outcomes as Determinants