Family Development and Children's Research Centre

A Fresh Look at Our Children’s Health

Desperately seeking answers...

What factors create differences in children’s health? How do the beliefs and behaviours of parents influence children’s health? How do access to health care, the quality of care received, and the actual use of services affect children’s health?

 

The Child Health and Wellness Survey (Phase 1- 2009-2011) conducted by the Family Development Project seeks to answer these pressing questions.

 

It may well be the most comprehensive of its kind undertaken, thus far, on the health status of children between the ages of three and five in Trinidad and Tobago. 

 

Groundbreaking Caribbean Research...

The survey was administered to 1500 children between the ages of 3 – 5 on a national/local level. It incorporates the role of biological, familial, community and cultural influences on the child health and well being.

 

The main objectives are:

• To understand the health status and health care needs of children
• To examine the impact of child characteristics, family characteristics, parent demographics, parents’ beliefs and expectations, parents’ behaviours, and the surrounding neighbourhood on children’s health
• To facilitate the development of parenting and other interventions that can help to improve the health of children
• To identify future areas for strategic healthcare priorities and investments
• To serve as baseline for additional follow-up studies of children’s health

 

The study assesses:

• Children’s physical and mental health status
• Access and use of health care services
• Ability to pay for health care
• Parental health status
• Children’s oral health
• Parents’/Guardians’ views about the care provided by health professionals
• Presence of chronic health conditions and disabilities among children

Research that speaks to national development...

The benefits to be derived from the Child Health and Wellness Survey are tremendous. From this study we may be able to address existing gaps in national estimates of physical, emotional and behavioural problems.

 

The data set can be used to help gauge the impact of current policies on child and family health in our communities. Moreover, the results are expected to stimulate discussions among researchers, policymakers and the public. This can ultimately lead to improved child and family healthcare prevention and treatment programmes.