Child health

Questions related to child health (here and subsequent sections) should be asked of

the primary caregiver as part of the main questionnaires. In terms of topics, many

national health surveys use a general health-related quality of life measure because

they are quick to administer and have been found to be valid and reliable indicators

of other objectively obtained measures of health status (Bowling, 2005). It has also

been shown to have predictive validity as a longitudinal indicator of adult health

outcomes.

Wave 1 captured information in respect of HSE-recommended vaccinations that

should have been administered at two, four and six months. There are further

vaccinations recommended by the HSE at 12 and 13 months; these could not have

been administered in advance of Wave 1 of the study. Depending on the rate of

vaccination take-up at 9 months, it may be worth asking a question on the catch-up

of any missed vaccinations from Wave 1.

According to data from the Health Protection Surveillance Centre presented in the

State of the Nation’s Children report, vaccine uptake at 24 months ranged from 81%

for MenC (meningococcal C disease) to 93% for other vaccines (p.159: DCEDIY,

2024b). A small number of parents in one of the focus groups expressed concerns

about the safety of COVID vaccinations for children.

Ireland has been highlighted by the WHO as having one of the poorer vaccination

uptake rates in the European Union.14 Although the MMR vaccination is administered

free of charge to children, the uptake is less than 90%, below the WHO’s target

coverage rate of 95 per cent. This is an important area of investigation, particularly

given the rise in measles cases in Ireland and internationally and the health and

infection risks associated with the disease.

Data from past waves of Growing Up in Ireland suggest that somewhere between

10% and 25% of children have longstanding illnesses or conditions (depending on the

definition used and age of the cohort). The experience of childhood chronic illness

can impose burdens on both the family unit and the child’s own development.

Research has found that children with a chronic illness or disability are at increased

risk for poorer psychosocial, health and often, educational outcomes (Layte &

McCrory, 2013). According to the State of the Nation’s Children report for 2024, 10%

of all children registered with a physical and/or sensory disability were under 5 years

of age (DCEDIY, 2024b).

Respiratory illnesses, particularly asthma, are the most common illnesses of early

childhood, and Ireland consistently ranks among the highest in the world in terms of

asthma prevalence (World Health Organisation, 2007). Furthermore, the available

evidence seems to indicate that rates of asthma have increased over time, particularly

in children (Braman, 2006). Data from the 9-year wave of Growing Up in Ireland’s

Cohort 98 showed that 50 per cent of all those with a chronic illness (or about 6 per

cent of the overall cohort) had a respiratory-related illness (Growing Up in Ireland

Study Team, 2009). Early childhood could be an appropriate time to examine

potential antecedents of asthma conditions that may develop over time and be picked

up in future waves of the study.

Early-manifesting sight and hearing problems, left untreated, can seriously impact a

child’s development in both the short- and long-term, potentially influencing their

speech, language and reading skills.

14 Measles on the rise in the EU/EEA: considerations for public health response. Available at https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/sites/default/files/documents/measles-eu-threat-assessment-brief-february- 2024.pdf

Recommendations for Cohort 24 at 3 years:

•Repeat questions from Cohort 24 at 9mths and Cohort 08 at 3yrs asking parent about the child’s current general health status

•Ask the parent whether the child has any longstanding conditions or illnesses, whether they have been diagnosed by a health professional, and the extent to which it impacts their life

Healthcare utilization