Journal article

Maternal help-seeking for child developmental concerns: Associations with socio-demographic factors

V Eapen, A Walter, J Guan, J Descallar, E Axelsson, S Einfeld, J Eastwood, E Murphy, D Beasley, N Silove, C Dissanayake, S Woolfenden, K Williams, B Jalaludin

Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health | WILEY | Published : 2017

Open access

Abstract

Aim: To examine socio-demographic factors associated with maternal help-seeking for child developmental concerns in a longitudinal birth cohort study. An understanding of these factors is critical to improving uptake of services to maximise early identification and intervention for developmental concerns. Methods: A birth cohort was recruited from the post-natal wards of two teaching hospitals and through community nurses in South Western Sydney, Australia, between November 2011 and April 2013. Of the 4047 mothers approached, 2025 consented to participate (response rate = 50%). Socio-demographic and service use information was collected after the child's birth and when the child was 18 month..

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University of Melbourne Researchers

Grants

Funding Acknowledgements

This study (APP1013690) was funded by the NH&MRC in Australia, through a partnership grant with the New South Wales Department of Health, Kids and Families, and in-kind support from the University of New South Wales, La Trobe University, South Western Sydney Local Health District and Sydney Children's Hospital Network. We thank Professor Margot Prior for her contribution to the development of the research proposal, the Child and Family Health Nurses in the Liverpool/Fairfield/Bankstown areas and their managers Trish Clarke, Victoria Blight and Wendy Geddes, the staff of the post-natal wards at Liverpool and Bankstown Hospitals, the staff at the Clinical Information Department at Liverpool Hospital, as well as research staff.