PUBH1020 Lecture Notes Week 2: The Health Status of Children
Top 10 Child Health Problems
What do parents think?
1. Excessive Screen time
2. Bullying
3. Internet safety
4. Unhealthy diet
5. Child abuse and neglect
6. Depression
7. Lack of exercise
8. Suicide
9. Obesity
10. Family and domestic violence
Parents are more likely to assume about other children rather than their own children.
4.8 million Australian children; whilst we have a large number of children, they represent a
lower proportion in Australia.
Total years of burden = life lost prematurely + health life lost through disease or injury
What is causing illness/injury in Australian children? Asthma!
Hospitalised injury causes for children between ages 0-14:
1. Falls
2. Contact with bacteria
3. Transport accidents
2 in 5 children had one or more chronic conditions (e.g. hay fever)
7.7% of children have some form of disability. Boys are twice as likely than girls to have a
profound disability.
The most common forms of disability among children are: intellectual, sensory and speech,
psychosocial
Overweight and obesity; the lack of balance between amount of energy consumed
through eating and drinking and energy expended through physical activities.
Behaviours include lack of sleep, increased time in front of screens, increased
consumption of low nutrient foods. Biological and social factors include genetics;
appetite and metabolism, accessibility to fresh, health food, fewer options for safe
outdoor play.
Breast feeding and nutrition; only 1 in 5 children meet the recommended amount of
fruits and veg in a day
Top 10 Child Health Problems
What do parents think?
1. Excessive Screen time
2. Bullying
3. Internet safety
4. Unhealthy diet
5. Child abuse and neglect
6. Depression
7. Lack of exercise
8. Suicide
9. Obesity
10. Family and domestic violence
Parents are more likely to assume about other children rather than their own children.
4.8 million Australian children; whilst we have a large number of children, they represent a
lower proportion in Australia.
Total years of burden = life lost prematurely + health life lost through disease or injury
What is causing illness/injury in Australian children? Asthma!
Hospitalised injury causes for children between ages 0-14:
1. Falls
2. Contact with bacteria
3. Transport accidents
2 in 5 children had one or more chronic conditions (e.g. hay fever)
7.7% of children have some form of disability. Boys are twice as likely than girls to have a
profound disability.
The most common forms of disability among children are: intellectual, sensory and speech,
psychosocial
Overweight and obesity; the lack of balance between amount of energy consumed
through eating and drinking and energy expended through physical activities.
Behaviours include lack of sleep, increased time in front of screens, increased
consumption of low nutrient foods. Biological and social factors include genetics;
appetite and metabolism, accessibility to fresh, health food, fewer options for safe
outdoor play.
Breast feeding and nutrition; only 1 in 5 children meet the recommended amount of
fruits and veg in a day
