Child poverty and health policy

London Child Poverty Network – 16th March 2010

Dr Mike BrannanRPHG-London

Child poverty – National policies

1. National Child Poverty Strategy (Ending child poverty: everybody’s business)

2. Public service agreements (PSAs):• Child health and well-being (PSA 12)• Health inequalities (PSA 18)• Increase the number of children and

young people on the path to success (PSA14)

PSA 18: Improve health and wellbeing for all

• To reduce health inequalities by 10% by 2010, as measured by:

– Infant mortality – Gap between routine and manual groups and whole population;

– Life expectancy – gap between the fifth of areas with the worst health and deprivation indicators (the ‘Spearhead Group’) and the population as a whole.

PSA 18: 2006-08 update – IM interventions

Ref: Tackling health inequalities: 2006-08 policy and data update for the 2010 national target

PSA 18: 2006-08 update – Infant mortality

• Gap between whole population and R&M groups remained constant, target is “challenging”.

Ref: Tackling health inequalities: 2006-08 policy and data update for the 2010 national target

Impact of modifiable factors on the infant mortality gap: North West & London

North West London

Teenage pregnancy

Sudden unexpected death in infancy

Smoking in pregnancy

Obesity in women of reproductive age

Poverty

Not breastfed

Other (factors not modelled)5

4

7

32

33

2

16

0 10 20 30 40 50Per cent

0

21

1

27

2

49

0

0 10 20 30 40 50Per cent

Infant deaths per 1,000 live births, 2006-08

All births within marriage & joint registrations

Routine and manual group

Gap

England and Wales 4.5

North West 5.6 1.1

London 5.0 0.4

Ref: DH/APHO health inequalities intervention toolkit

Strategic Review of Health Inequalities in England post-2010 –Tasks

1. Identify evidence most relevant to future policy and action in England.

2. Show how evidence could be translated into practice.

3. Advise possible objectives and measures (building on PSA 18).

4. Publish a report to contribute to development of post-2010 health inequalities strategy.

Fair Society, Healthy Lives – Case for action

Fair Society, Healthy Lives - Conceptual framework

Taking recommendations forward

• Policy recommendations:– Increase paid parental leave in the first year– Better jobs suitable for lone parents, carers,

people with mental / physical health problems– Minimum income for healthy living

• London partnerships:– Mayor’s Health Inequalities Strategy for London– ‘Olympic’ strategic regeneration framework (SRF)