| 1. |
- Bergström, Malin, et al.
(författare)
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Children with two homes: Psychological problems in relation to living arrangements in Nordic 2-to 9-year-olds
- 2019
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Ingår i: Scand J Public Health. - : SAGE Publications. - 1403-4948 .- 1651-1905. ; 47:2, s. 137-145
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Aim: Joint physical custody, children spending equal time in each parents' respective home after a parental divorce, is particularly common in Nordic compared with other Western countries. Older children have been shown to fare well in this practice but for young children there are few existing studies. The aim of this paper is to study psychological problems in 2- to 9-year-old Nordic children in different family forms. Methods: Total symptom score according to the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire as well as scores showing externalizing problems were compared among 152 children in joint physical custody, 303 in single care and 3207 in nuclear families through multiple linear regression analyses. Results: Children in single care had more psychological symptoms than those in joint physical custody (B = 1.08; 95% CI 0.48 to 1.67) and those in nuclear families had the least reported symptoms (B = -0.53; 95% CI -0.89 to -0.17). Externalizing problems were also lower in nuclear families (B = -0.28, 95% CI -0.52 to -0.04) compared with joint physical custody after adjusting for covariates. Conclusions: Young children with non-cohabiting parents suffered from more psychological problems than those in intact families. Children in joint physical custody had a lower total problem score than those in single care after adjusting for covariates. Longitudinal studies with information on family factors before the separation are needed to inform policy of young children's post-separation living arrangements.
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| 2. |
- Berntsson, Leeni, 1938, et al.
(författare)
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Health, economy and social capital in Nordic children aged 13-17 years and their families: changes between 1984, 1996 and 2011
- 2015
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Ingår i: International journal of healthcare. - : Sciedu Press. - 2377-7338 .- 2377-7346. ; 2:1, s. 51-61
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Three repeated cross-sectional surveys, using representative samples of children, aged 2-17 years, stratified for age and sex, were conducted in each of the five Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden) in 1984, 1996 and 2011. The aim of the present study was to analyze how the health of Nordic 13-17 years old children developed over time, using results from the three surveys in relation to changes in economy and social capital. Methods: Data from 2,905 children in 1984, 2,922 in 1996 and 2,257 in 2011 were collected using mailed questionnaires. Indicators in three areas were used. The Health indicator was taken as absence of psychosomatic complaints. Economy was represented by social class, housing and disposable income. Social capital contained absence of bullying, the child’s organized group activities, parents playing with their children, and parents’ position of trust. Three composite indices one for each area were formed and called Health, Economy and Social Capital Index. Results: There were statistically significant increases of psychosomatic health complaints for children 13-17 years in all the Nordic countries, strongest among girls, at the same time as the economy and social capital of the families increased, particularly in the first period (1984-1996). Conclusions: In spite of the families’ growing economy and improved standard of living there is an increasingly harsh climate in society, with stress, dissatisfaction, bullying and mental health problems. It supports conclusions from other studies that only economic growth is not enough for the full wellbeing of the population. It also supports the importance of the social cohesion, affiliation and solidarity, advanced and reinforced by equitable distribution of the wealth. Social cohesion is important for schooling, on the values of self help, equity, to seek solutions for health among youths.
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| 3. |
- Berntsson, Leeni, 1938, et al.
(författare)
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Health, economy and social capital in Nordic children and their families. A comparison between 1984 and 1996.
- 2006
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Ingår i: CHILD: CARE; HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT. - 1365-2214. ; 32:4, s. 441-451
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to analyse the development in the health of children that occurred in the five Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden) between 1984 and 1996 and relate it to the changes in economic growth and social capital in these countries during the same period. METHODS: Two cross-sectional studies covered a representative sample of children, aged 2-17 years in each country, a total of 10,291 in 1984 and 10,317 in 1996. The data were collected by mailed questionnaires. Statistical associations between a health indicator (the absence of psychosomatic complaints), economic indicators (social class, housing and disposable income) and social capital indicators (parents' and children's organized group activities, parents playing with their children and the absence of bullying) within samples and between corresponding values in different samples across subgroups (defined by country and area of residence) were evaluated using multiple linear regression. RESULTS: In both surveys, there was a statistically highly significant association between the health indicator and the social capital indicators, whereas the economy indicators were not related to either of the other two types of measure. Change in health was associated positively with change in social capital and negatively with change in economy. CONCLUSION: The study provides strong support for the concept of social capital as an important determinant of children's health.
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| 4. |
- Köhler, Lennart, 1933, et al.
(författare)
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A Child Health Index for Sweden’s 290 Municipalities: A System of Indicators and Indices for Monitoring Children’s Health on the Local Level
- 2018
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Ingår i: Child Indicators Research. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1874-897X .- 1874-8988. ; 11:6, s. 1889-1906
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This broad survey of children’s health and wellbeing in Sweden’s 290 municipalities converts freely available national data to a set of 13 high quality indicators, and makes local surveillance and comparisons possible. Combining the indicators, using equal weights, into relevant domains as 5 sub-indices and then again into one summary index provides one index for the great picture, sub-indices for the various domains of child health and separate indicators for the detailed study of the basic components. This creates a simplified tool for decision makers and professionals in their task to monitor children’s health on the local level. Children’s health in the Swedish municipalities is generally good, with a mean Child Health Index of 88 out of 100, ranging from 81 to 93. Children in economically disadvantaged municipalities have, with few exceptions, more health problems and worse preconditions for health. The indicators Socio-economic standard, Tobacco in utero, Smoking households and Teenage abortions explain most of the municipality variations. But the broader range of indicators gives more information and is a better tool to consider strengths and weaknesses for each municipality, and is thus more useful for policy-oriented efforts. The real value of this kind of monitoring lies in a succession of comparable surveys. The generous, free and easily available data are not available in all other countries, but matters such as philosophy and design, indicator definitions and index constructions might be considered in other regions looking for ways to monitor children’s health and wellbeing on local levels. © 2018, The Author(s).
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| 5. |
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| 6. |
- Köhler, Lennart, 1933
(författare)
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Monitoring children's health and well-being by indicators and index: apples and oranges or fruit salad?
- 2016
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Ingår i: Child: Care, Health and Development. - : Wiley. - 1365-2214 .- 0305-1862. ; 42:6, s. 798-808
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The use of indicators is a fast and widely spread way to monitor groups of children's health and well-being. Indicators are useful in research; but they are also important tools for planners and politicians. Although they are constructed to simplify reality, in many reports they still offer a complex and confusing picture, not least by their sheer numbers. Although they are constructed to simplify reality, in many reports, they still offer a complex and confusing picture, not least by their sheer numbers. Therefore, there is an increasing demand for even further simplifications, where the indicators are combined into single summary numbers, composite indices. At the same time, as a composite index summarizes a complex and sometimes elusive process, making it more accessible for advocacy and political interventions, the combining of very dissimilar components makes the results difficult to interpret and use. There is an obvious dilemma between the need for rigour and evidence, the research orientation, and the wish for a simple and summarizing overview of the findings, the policy orientation. Models have been created to form indicator sets, either by combining them by simple addition or by weighting them or by just leaving them as separate indicators. Most index systems in operation use an equal weighting system after standardization, once the components have been selected. Examples of these models are described as well as their pros and cons, and a summary of suitable ways of handling the problems of indicators and composite indices is offered. Some surveys have taken the best from different approaches, presenting the results as a summary index for the great picture, as subindices for the various domains of child health and as separate indicators for the detailed study of the basic components. A Swedish Child Health Index is presented as an example of such a solution. © 2016 John Wiley & Sons Ltd
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| 7. |
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| 8. |
- Virtanen, Jorma, et al.
(författare)
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Childrens Use of Dentist Services in Four Nordic Countries
- 2006
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Ingår i: COMMUNITY DENTAL HEALTH. - 0265-539X. ; 23, s. 171-172
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- An increase in the use of services offered for children by general practitioners has taken place since the 1980s in the Nordic countries. Aim: To compare differences in childrens use of dental services in four Nordic countries between the 1980s and the 1990s and to analyse trends during the period. Methods: The participants were 12,000 children aged 2-17 years in Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden. Cross-sectional population surveys using random samples comprising 3000 children were conducted in 1984 and 1996. Time trends in the use of dental services were studied in each country by age, gender, parents highest level of education, and living area. The main outcome was dental services utilization that was based on the responses to a questionnaire item asking whether the parents had consulted a dentist / a dental nurse with regard to their childrens oral health during the previous three months. Results: The percentage of children who had used dental services varied from 50% in 1984 in Norway to 38% in 1996 in Sweden. A clear time trend towards decreasing utilization of dental services (p<0.05) was found in all countries except in Finland where utilization of dental services increased significantly (p<0.05) between 1984 and 1996. Odds ratios for time trends (1984=1.00) varied from 0.66 (95% CI 0.58-0.75) in Sweden to 0.71 (0.62-0.81) in Iceland. The corresponding figures in Finland were 1.32 (1.16-1.48). In Finland and Norway, children in families with lower a education used more dental services than those in families with higher education. Conclusions: Between the 1980s and the 1990s childrens use of dental services has decreased significantly in the four Nordic countries. Increased use of individual recall intervals in oral health care might partly explain this finding.
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| 9. |
- Virtanen, Jorma, et al.
(författare)
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Childrens use of general practitioner services in the five Nordic countries
- 2006
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Ingår i: JOURNAL OF EPIDEMIOLOGY AND COMMUNITY HEALTH. - 1470-2738. ; 60:2, s. 162-167
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- OBJECTIVE: To compare socioeconomic, sociodemographic, and living area differences in children's use of GP services in five Nordic countries from the 1980s to the 1990s and to analyse trends during the period. DESIGN: Cross sectional population surveys using random samples comprising 3000 children aged 2-17 years were conducted in 1984 and 1996 in five Nordic countries. Time trends in use of GP services were studied in each country by age, sex, parents' highest level of education, and living area. SETTING: Five Nordic countries, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden in 1984 and 1996. PARTICIPANTS: A total sample of 15 000 children aged 2-17 years. Altogether 3000 children were selected at random from the national population registers of the national bureaus of statistics in each country. MAIN OUTCOME: Health services utilisation on the basis of responses to a questionnaire item asking whether the parents had consulted a GP with regard to their children's health during the previous three months. MAIN RESULTS: The prevalence of children's utilisation of GP services varied from 14% in 1984 in Sweden to 28% in 1996 in Iceland. A clear time trend towards increasing utilisation of GP services (p<0.05) was found in all countries except in Denmark. Odds ratios for time trends (1984 = 1.00) varied from 1.22 (1.02 to 1.46) in Sweden to 1.92 (1.62 to 2.30) in Norway. After adjusting for independent variables, a statistically borderline significant declining utilisation trend (OR = 0.85 (0.70 to 1.03)) was found for Denmark. CONCLUSION: Children's use of GP services has increased significantly in four of the five Nordic countries.
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