Child Health

Child Health in New Zealand

www.moh.govt.nz/childhealth

Ministry of Health publications

Other publications

Health Education resources

Related links

Ministry of Health publications

Child and Youth Health Toolkit

Influences in Childhood on the Development of Cardiovascular Disease and Type 2 Diabetes in Adulthood - An Occasional Paper
This paper provides a comprehensive review of the medical literature around the childhood determinants of adult diabetes and cardiovascular disease. The study was undertaken by Dr Nicola Nelson, as part of her advanced training in paediatrics, during her six-month attachment to the Ministry of Health. The context for the research is that it is a building block for the Ministry's ‘Leading for Outcomes’ workstream of the Clinical Services Directorate. This paper does not necessarily define formal Ministry of Health policy in this area, but is intended to inform policy decisions and programme implementation in the health sector.

National Vision Hearing Screening Protocols
These screening protocols are for use by vision hearing technicians (VHTs) who are part of the National Vision Hearing Screening Programme.

This document describes the screening process and is not a training manual. VHTs need to have attended the VHT Introductory Training Course at the National Audiology Centre (NAC) and must be monitored every two years according to the service specification.

Improving the Health of Young People - Guidelines for school-based health care
Improving the Health of Young People is a practical, step-by-step guide to setting up a school-based health service. It is designed to assist health professionals and Primary Health Organisations who are thinking about how they could improve the health of the 12- to 18-year-olds in their population. The booklet takes a 'whole of school' approach and draws on the experience of a range of educators and health and allied professionals who are currently working in school settings around the country.

Children in New Zealand – Report on Cross-Sectoral Outcome Measures and Targets (May 2001)
The Report on Cross-sectoral Outcome Measures and Targets 2000 is an annual report, which focuses exclusively on monitoring progess towards specified targets set in the Strengthening Families Strategy in 1997.

Child Health Programme Review (June 1998)
The Child Health Programme Review reviews research into the effectiveness of preventive interventions in 14 areas of child health. Each section of the review consists of health status data, factors influencing health status, interventions identified as effective or in frequent use and the major implications for policy and services

Child Health Information Strategy (April 2003)
The Child Health Information Strategy (CHIS) is an overarching plan to guide the development, collection and use of information about the health of children and young people.

Child Health Strategy (June 1998)
The Child Health Strategy was launched by the Hon Bill English, Minister of Health, on 29 July 1998. The contributing documents: the Child Health Programme Review and Our Children's Health were also released at that time. There is also a small booklet, Improving the Health of our Children, which summarises the Strategy.

The Strategy was developed through extensive consultation with the child health community in New Zealand. It reflects the child health community's views about what is needed to improve health outcomes for children/tamariki and their families and whanau in New Zealand.

Congenital and Inherited Conditions (June 1996)
The purpose of this paper is to provide advice to the Minister of Health on a strategy: to improve and protect the health of New Zealanders through the appropriate prevention and early detection of congenital and inherited conditions.
The emphasis will be on improving access to information, allowing informed choices and improving the future development of better access to services.

Consent in Child and Youth Health: Information for Practitioners (December 1998)
This publication provides child and youth health practitioners with information about the ethical and legal requirements of consent. It explores issues where there is lack of clarity and provides guidance which may assist in preventing difficult issues arising. It aims to build practitioner confidence and encourage positive and safe practice.

Improving the Health of Our Children (June 1998)
This is a short eight page booklet which provides a concise user-friendly summary of the Child Health Strategy.

Infant Feeding - Guidelines for New Zealand Health Workers (June 1997)
The health guidelines reflect the Ministry of Health's commitment to implement the WHO Code, to promote breastfeeding and to address the public health objectives set in 1994:

to increase full breastfeeding at three months to 70 percent by 1997 and 75 percent by the year 2000
to increase breastfeeding (full or partial) at six months to 70 percent by 1997, and 75 percent by the year 2000.

NZ Food, NZ Children (November 2003)
Findings of the 2002 National Children's Nutrition Survey

This report overviews the 2002 National Children's Nutrition Survey (CNS02). It describes the methodologies and the data on nutrient intakes and their sources; food security; eating patterns; frequently eaten foods; physical activity patterns; dental health; anthropometric measures and selected nutrition-related clinical measures of New Zealand schoolchildren 5–14 years of age.

Our Children's Health: Key findings on the health of New Zealand children (June 1998)
The report Our Children's Health: Key findings on the health of New Zealand children presents recent information on the demographic and social circumstances of children, along with patterns of deaths, illnesses and health-related behaviours and makes international comparisons.

Review of the New Zealand Interpretation of the World Health Organization's International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes (September 2004)
Eleven action points which will provide a framework for refining and strengthening New Zealand's interpretation of the World Health Organization's International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes, have been agreed by the Ministry of Health.

A Snapshot of Health and Disability Services Available to Preschoolers on the Kapiti Coast

The Well Child Framework (March 2002)
'Ensuring access to appropriate child health care services including Well Child and family health care and immunisation' is one of the thirteen population health strategies outlined in the New Zealand Health Strategy (2000).

In order to achieve this goal the Ministry of Health has developed a new framework for delivering 'Well Child care'. This document describes the process for the development of the framework and the key elements of the framework. Implementation will be undertaken by District Health Boards, and will occur over a two to three-year period.

Well Child - Tamariki Ora National Schedule Handbook
This handbook has been developed to assist and support all providers who deliver 'well child care' in accordance with the Well Child/Tamariki Ora National Schedule

Youth Sexual Health Campaign 2004/05

Other Publications:

Improving Child Oral Health and Reducing Child Oral Health Inequalities (PDF, opens in new window)
This report by the Public Health Advisory Committee (PHAC) includes the Committee’s advice to the Minister of Health on how to improve child oral health and reduce inequalities in child oral health in New Zealand.

Protocol for the Management of Infants at Risk of SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome)

Health Education Resources:

The following are some of the resources available from the Ministry of Health's health education resources website.

	Eating for Healthy Children aged 2 to 12 A new resource replacing code 4379 with information on food and nutrition requirements for children with ideas for treats, snacks, drinks, etc.
	Child-Resistant Packaging A bright new leaflet to be distributed by pharmacists and child health providers with information on the use of child-resistant packaging on medicines and poisons to help reduce the risk of young children being poisoned at home. There is also some helpful advice and the phone number of the National Poisons Centre should a child swallow a poison.
	Feeding your baby infant formula This resource has been developed to enable health professionals to provide objective and consistent advice to mothers who have made the decision to either partially or fully formula feed their baby. The booklet provides up-to-date information about the care and preparation of formula, feeding techniques and travelling with a formula-fed baby.
	Babies, Bed Sharing and Safety Contains information on the risks and benefits of bed sharing for babies and suggests ways to ensure baby is safe. One of a series of pamphlets on protecting babies produced by Education for Change Ltd.
	Protecting your Baby's Head Shape Describes positional head-flattening which can occur in babies and discusses ways to prevent flat spots and what to do if flat spots do develop. One of a series of pamphlets on protecting babies produced by Education for change Ltd.
	Back is Best Focuses on protecting baby from sudden infant death syndrome and the importance of babies being put to sleep on their back. One of a series of pamphlets on protecting babies produced by Education for Change Ltd.
	Everyone, please The card is designed to be placed on or beside the baby's cot and asks that baby be put to sleep face up, face clear and smokefree. One of a series produced by Education for Change Ltd.
	Changing Smoking in Pregnancy Contains information on how smoking affects babies and the benefits of change. Women are encouraged to make a decision to increase smokefree times and places, and to reduce or stop smoking. One of a series of pamphlets on protecting babies produced by Education for Change Ltd.
	Infectious Diseases A laminated card featuring 20 infectious childhood diseases, their signs and symptoms and exclusion times. The same as the poster, Code 1214, but A4 size, which can be kept in a desk file.
	Infectious Diseases This poster lists 20 infectious childhood diseases, their signs and symptoms and exclusion times.
	Free Well Child Checks This poster for health providers, promotes free well child checks to parents
	Well Child - Tamariki Ora A4 sheet of 25 stickers for health workers’ distribution to children - featuring the Well Child Tamariki Ora logo.
	Clean As Poster for Intermediate schools featuring characters denoting key messages in the 'Clean As' resource kit on basic hygiene
	Fast Free Food for Babies This photographic postcard promotes breastfeeding.
	Baby Teeth are Important In pads of 25 for ease of health professional and early childhood centre distribution to parents of preschool children, the flyer discusses the importance of caring for baby teeth.
	Protect your child This poster features key Well Child messages and promotion of Well Child-Tamariki Ora checks
	Fast Free Food for Babies This photographic poster promotes breastfeeding to give babies the healthiest start in life.
	Useful Information Children 0-5 years This 12-page illustrated booklet lists key messages about child development and health for parents/caregivers (mainly for use with Well Child Book code 7012). Samoan Tongan Niuean Tokelauan Cook Islands Maori
	Well Child Tamariki Ora Health Book This 136-page book, for primary care provider distribution to new parents, is primarily a parents/caregivers’ record with information about child development and health. The book is part of the Well \Child-Tamariki Ora programme. (Immunisation Certificate and Record incorporated.)
	Starting Solids This information leaflet about food for infants gives ideas for solid foods to start giving your baby from aged 4-6 months.
	Danger Signals Repeating the messages from the back of the Well Child-Tamariki Ora Health Book, the simply presented one-sided leaflet tells and shows the warning signs of illness in a young child who needs medical attention.
	Healthy Eating for Babies and Toddlers This 14-page illustrated booklet gives food information for children from birth to two years old, covering breastfeeding, formula feeding, fluid intake, solids, variety, and meal ideas.
	Can Your Child Hear the Story? This poster shows a man reading a story to three children, one of whom appears not to listen - the message is to have your child checked for glue ear (which can cause deafness) by your doctor, nurse, vision hearing technician or Maori Community Health Worker
	Lead and Lead Poisoning In pads of 25 for ease of distribution, this leaflet informs about causes and prevention of lead poisoning, which is mainly a risk through old paint, contaminated dust and soil, petrol and some industries, and of particular risk to young and unborn children.
	Remember, Wash Your Hands This blue and white sticker uses both English and Maori to give the hand-washing health message. The sticker is suitable for placing anywhere where people need reminding about this simple but important habit.
	Dental & Hygiene Brightly coloured action cartoons for preschools and junior primary children encouraging dental care and basic hygiene.
	Periodontal Disease In pads of 25 for ease of health professional or teacher distribution, this leaflet outlines the signs, causes and care of gum disease to parents.
	Help Prevent Tooth Decay This leaflet which has been updated and redesigned, outlines the causes of tooth decay to parents.
	Fissure Sealant This leaflet promotes the use of fissure sealant to parents, to help prevent later decay of children’s permanent back teeth.
	Tooth Brushing This leaflet for parents has been updated and redesigned and promotes children’s regular toothbrushing.
	Headlice Facts This pamphlet gives information on headlice and their treatment.