Revised standards of proficiencies for midwives: an opportunity to influence childhood health?

2020 ◽  
Vol 28 (3) ◽  
pp. 150-154
Author(s):  
Samantha Meegan
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Child Development ◽  
Evidence Base ◽  
Early Child Development ◽  
Childhood Health ◽  
Early Child ◽  
The Public ◽  
The Future ◽  
The Uk ◽  
The Impact

The first 1 000 days of life are critical during early child development, yet the significance of this time and the impact on childhood health have only recently been recognised within the UK. In early 2020, the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) released revised standards of proficiency for midwives. These draw on the evidence-base generated by recent research developments within public health, providing the first update of midwifery standards for a decade. This article critically explores the main aspects within the NMC's future midwife proficiencies that relate to the public health component of the midwifery role, and will examine how these factors can equip midwives of the future to support women, their babies and families within the fundamental early days of life.

scholarly journals Learning across the UK: a review of public health systems and policy approaches to early child development since political devolution

2019 ◽  
Vol 42 (2) ◽  
pp. 224-238 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michelle Black ◽  
Amy Barnes ◽  
Susan Baxter ◽  
Claire Beynon ◽  
Mark Clowes ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Child Development ◽  
Health Systems ◽  
Early Child Development ◽  
Future Health ◽  
Early Child ◽  
Public Health Systems ◽  
Explicit Recognition ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Systems Framework

Abstract Background Giving children the best start in life is critical for their future health and wellbeing. Political devolution in the UK provides a natural experiment to explore how public health systems contribute to children’s early developmental outcomes across four countries. Method A systematic literature review and input from a stakeholder group was used to develop a public health systems framework. This framework then informed analysis of public health policy approaches to early child development. Results A total of 118 studies met the inclusion criteria. All national policies championed a ‘prevention approach’ to early child development. Political factors shaped divergence, with variation in national conceptualizations of child development (‘preparing for life’ versus ‘preparing for school’) and pre-school provision (‘universal entitlement’ or ‘earned benefit’). Poverty and resourcing were identified as key system factors that influenced outcomes. Scotland and Wales have enacted distinctive legislation focusing on wider determinants. However, this is limited by the extent of devolved powers. Conclusion The systems framework clarifies policy complexity relating to early child development. The divergence of child development policies in the four countries and, particularly, the explicit recognition in Scottish and Welsh policy of wider determinants, creates scope for this topic to be a tracer area to compare UK public health systems longer term.

Double Jeopardy: The Impact of Poverty on Early Child Development

1988 ◽  
Vol 35 (6) ◽  
pp. 1227-1240 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steven Parker ◽  
Steven Greer ◽  
Barry Zuckerman
Keyword(s):  
Child Development ◽  
Early Child Development ◽  
Double Jeopardy ◽  
Early Child ◽  
The Impact

scholarly journals Effect of breast feeding on child development: At birth and beyond

2015 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 4-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Saria Tasnim
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Development ◽  
Child Development ◽  
Breast Feeding ◽  
Infant Health ◽  
Positive Influence ◽  
Social Adaptation ◽  
Early Child Development ◽  
Early Child ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
The Impact

The effect of breast feeding on infant health and development has been the subject of scientific enquiry for decades. The association between breast feeding and early child development is also a complex issue. It has been found that determining the true influence of breastfeeding on child development is difficult for several reasons. This review has been made to explore the effect of ever breast feeding and duration of breast feeding on intelligent quotient, psychomotor and social development of the child during childhood and beyond. Breast feeding has positive effects on cognitive development of infant and it is more pronounced in premature infants. Breast feeding infants have higher intelligence quotient (IQ) than non-breast fed. The amount of mutual touch, tactile stimulation and mother’s gaze to the infant are significantly elevated during breastfeeding and this has a positive influence on the child’s psychological development. The impact of breast feeding on cognitive development, behavior, social adaptation and understanding of the infant needs to be emphasized during the promotion of breast feeding and early child development programs.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/seajph.v4i1.21831 South East Asia Journal of Public Health Vol.4(1) 2014: 4-8

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