Child health
Alternative labels
Puericulture
Child health services
Report
Healthy starts: the state of Australia’s child and family health service system
This report maps the experiences of families accessing the network of health services and supports in Australia available from the very beginning of pregnancy, through birth, and across the first 2,000 days of a child’s life. It identifies key system-wide barriers that prevent children and families from accessing high-quality, connected support.
Working paper
Socioeconomic inequalities in birth weight
This study uses population-wide birth registration data linked to census records to examine the relationship between socioeconomic factors and the birth weight of Australian children. The findings suggest policies aimed at improving socioeconomic conditions may contribute to better early-life health outcomes by reducing the risk of low birth weight.
Literature review
Rapid scoping review of protective factors for parent and child wellbeing
This report summarises the research evidence on protective factors for parent and child wellbeing in the early years (pre-birth to 5 years of age). The evidence shows that a range of programs and interventions can be effective in improving child, parent and family outcomes.
Report
Feasibility study on options to limit unhealthy food marketing to children
The study explores unhealthy food marketing to children in Australia. It outlines the policy problem and rationale for action; overview of methodology; policy options for reducing children’s exposure to unhealthy food and drink marketing; and an assessment of potential impacts. The analysis indicates that current self-regulatory arrangements do not provide sufficient protection.
Report
Enhanced Maternal and Child Health program performance
This report reviews the Enhanced Maternal and Child Health Service (EMCH) in Victoria. It assesses whether EMCH is achieving its intended outcomes of reaching families with the greatest need. It recommends improvements in data collection to enable the performance of the program to be assessed and ensure it is reaching families in greatest need.