Determinants of the health and development of

Australia’s children

• Determinants of the health and individual human development of Australia's children, including at least one from each of the following:– biological, such as genetics, birth weight and bodyweight – behavioural, such as eating habits, level of physical activity, oral hygiene, breastfeeding and vaccination– physical environment, such as tobacco smoke in the home, housing environment, fluoridation of water and access to recreational facilities– social, such as parental education, parenting practices, media and access to healthcare

The impact of biologicaldeterminants

GeneticsInherited characteristics – bodytype, potential for height, basal metabolicrate, hair colour and eye colour.Sex – whether or not the individual ismale or female.Genetic disorders- cystic fibrosis, down syndromeTiming of development – which controls all development in childhood, including the eruption of the first tooth, growth spurts and the onset of puberty.

Bodyweight21% to 25% of Australian children are overweight or obese, with 5% to 6% being obese.long-term and short-term complications include:• eating disorders• high blood pressure• musculoskeletal discomfort• Type 2 diabetes• orthopaedic conditions• heat intolerance• reflux• obstructive sleep apnoea• asthma• shortness of breath.

• Increases chance of:• obesity in adulthood• being teased by their peers • having low self-esteem and poor body image.

The impact of behaviouraldeterminants

• Eating habits• Refer to pg 282• Complete activity 9.2

Level of physical activity

• Children need to do a minimum of 1 hour of physical activity every day.

• Children spend more time in front of TV playing games and less time being physically active outside.

• sedentary lifestyle - behaviour, whether in the workplace or home, that is distinctly sedentary or seated and that involves little movement or exercise.

• The most recent data available (2011–12 Australian Health Survey) suggests that most children (60%) aged 5–17 years met the guideline of moderate to vigorous activity

• For children, more than 2 hours of screen time a day is associated with poor fitness, smoking, increased cholesterol and being overweight in adulthood.

• Exercise builds gross and fine motor skills, builds self esteem, improves flexibility and helps children to learn new skills.

• list six ways families can increase the amount of activity being undertaken by children.

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

Development of bones and teeth• Teeth( both primary and secondary) develop in prenatal

period• First teeth erupt usually between 6-8 months• Teeth only erupt after they have been sufficiently

calcified• Primary teeth are replaced by permanent teeth, jaw

grows to accommodate large teeth• Permanent teeth start to emerge age 6 until 13 years• Poor dental health can cause pain, delay speech

development, teeth are important for sounds to be formed clearly

• Poor oral hygiene can impact self esteem and self concept

Oral hygiene

• Decay is common among children but can be easily prevented.

• Decay is caused by a build-up of plaque (sticky coating on teeth).

• Plaque can be removed by brushing teeth regularly

Poor oral health can:

• lead to problems such as:• toothache, pain and distress• difficulty sleeping speaking and eating. • higher absenteeism school leading to poor

academic performance.• infection

Hints for healthy teeth• Limit the number of times sugary foods and drinks are

consumed.• Drink mainly water and avoid sugary drinks.• Start brushing teeth from the time the first tooth appears.• Encourage infants to drink from a cup from 6 months of

age and avoid babies• and children sucking on sugary drinks all day (never put

juice or cordial in a bottle).• Assist children under the age of 8 to brush their teeth.• Have regular dental checks from three and- a-half years of

age.

Explain how poor dental health can impact on the social and intellectual development of childrenHow can poor oral hygiene impact health?What role do parents play in promoting dental care?

Breastfeeding

• Breastfeeding is the ideal way of providing young infants with the nutrients they need for healthy growth and development. Virtually all mothers can breastfeed, provided they have accurate information, and the support of their family and the health care system.

Benefits of breast feeding for baby

• breast milk provides perfect nutrition to match a baby’s changing needs

• Aids brain development• Right temperature, always ready• Baby has less illness due to antibodies in

breast milk

What illness do they suffer less of ?

• Common infections • Middle-ear infections • Some childhood cancers • Diarrhoeal diseases • Respiratory infections and asthma • Juvenile diabetes • Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) • Childhood obesity.• Reduced incidence of eczema

http://www.breastfeeding.asn.au/media/index.htmlOutline the benefits of breastfeeding on Health and Individual Human Development

VaccinationVaccination refers to the process of giving a vaccine to an individual to stimulate their immune system and protect them against a specific infectious disease.The following diseases are considered to bevaccine preventable (DHA, 2007):• diphtheria• tetanus• pertussis (whooping cough)• poliomyelitis (polio)• measles • mumps• rubella• haemophilus influenza type B (HIB)• hepatitis B• meningococcal C disease• varicella (chicken pox)• rotavirus• pneumococcal disease.Refer to page 293

• http://www.sbs.com.au/ondemand/video/30004803525/jabbed-love-fear-and-vaccines

• why have vaccines been developed and explain what they aim to protect Children and infants against?

The impact of social determinants

• Parenting practicesParenting is also linked to parental education levels, income, employment, family size and parental wellbeing.• Traditionally there are four main parenting styles:• Authoritarian• Authoritative or democratic • Permissive• Uninvolved

Authoritarian

Authoritarian parents attempt to always be in control.These parents set strict rules and strict standards, and will enforce a punishment if rules are not followed. They usually show little warmth and affection. They do not usually provide a reason for their decisions or involve children in the decision-making process. These parents are often critical, tell children what to do and try to make children obey them. This parenting style may result in children who do not learn to think for themselves.

Authoritative or democratic

Democratic or authoritative parents usually provide clear, reasonable expectations or rules for their children, offer explanations about why they have these expectations and monitor that the child meets these expectations.They do, however, parent with warmth and affection and prefer to focus on and praise good behaviour rather than punish bad behaviour. These parents may allow their children to make some decisions appropriate to their age with a limited number of options. They also aim to improve behaviour through teaching their child rather than punishing.

Permissive

Permissive parents do not control their children; instead they tend to pass control over to their children and attempt to avoid confrontation.They tend to be warm and loving to their children regardless of behaviour. These parents tend to make few rules, and do not tend to enforce the rules that they do make.Children with permissive parents tend to have more trouble with authority so may have difficulties at school.

Uninvolved

• Uninvolved parents tend to have few rules and expectations, however, unlike the permissive parent, the uninvolved parent does not offer the same warmth and affection. They tend to disengage from their child’s life and offer little communication or interaction.

• Describe the impact on Health and Individual Human development that each of the four parent styles might have.

Access to healthcare

• All Australians have the right to free or low cost medical or hospital care

• maternal and child health service exists to help parents meet the various challenges of parenthood. Appointments with a Maternal health Child Nurse at child’s age of 2 weeks, 4 weeks, 8 weeks, 4 months, 6–8 months, 12 months, 18–21 months, 2 years, 3½ and 4–5 years.

These visits offer an opportunity for parentsto get advice on a range of issues such as:• maternal health• family planning• parenting• breastfeeding• nutrition• child health• child development• child safety• immunisation.Describe two positive influences that access to health care provides during the lifespan stage of Childhood.

Access to education

• In Victoria, school is compulsory from the age of 6 until 17.

The impact of the physicalenvironment

• Fluoridation of the water• Fluoridating the water supply began in 1953

Kidsafe

• Homes are most common location for child injuries. • Kidsafe provides advice and information on a variety of areas

including:• Home safety- including poising, curtain cords, furniture,

toys, safe sleeping • Water safety- burns and scolds, pool safety• Road safety- car restraints, driveway safety, children left

unattended in cars, pedestrian safety • Playground safety• Bike safety- no helmet no ride

• http://www.kidsafevic.com.au/images/stories/pdfs/Safety%20Checklist.pdf• http://www.kidsafevic.com.au/images/stories/pdfs/Safety%20Checklist.pdf

• There are a number of health issues that children may experience such as falls and injuries, food allergies, juvenile arthritis or type 1 diabetes.

Select one of the above health issues and complete the following questions:• Description of health issue (2 marks)• Select two examples of determinants of the health and development

of Australian children, and explain how each acts as a risk and/or protective factor for the issue selected (6 marks)

• Briefly outline a government, community or personal strategy or program that is designed to promote the health and development of children impacted by the issue selected (2 marks)

• Explain two examples of how this strategy or program promotes health and individual human development of children. (4 marks)