Social Justice - a Scotland where everyone matters: Indicators of Progress 2003

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Social Justice
a Scotland where everyone matters
Indicators of Progress 2003

Milestone 5: Improving the well-being of our young children through reductions in the proportion of women smoking during pregnancy, the percentage of low birth-weight babies, dental decay among 5 year olds, and by increasing the proportion of women breastfeeding.

This milestone is measured by four indicators. The source of the information on smoking, low birth-weight and breastfeeding is the Information and Statistics Division (ISD) of the National Health Service in Scotland. Information on dental decay among 5 year olds is obtained from the Scottish Health Boards Dental Epidemiology Programme (SHBDEP).

(a) Women smoking during pregnancy

Since 1999, there has been a very small decrease in the percentage of women smoking at the start of pregnancy from 27.9 per cent in 1999 to 27.4 per cent in 2001. This information is self-reported at the first antenatal visit to the hospital.

Table 5a: Percentage of women smoking at the start of pregnancy, 1993 - 2001

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999r

2000r

2001rp

Percentage

28.0

28.7

28.8

29.2

29.5

28.6

27.9

27.5

27.4

Source: Information and Statistics Division : National Health Service in Scotland
Home births and births at non-NHS hospitals are excluded.
These national figures include a small amount of estimation from some Health Boards.
r- Revised, p- Provisional

Carstairs Deprivation Quintiles

Women living in the most deprived quintile of postcode sectors are around two and a half times more likely to smoke at the time of their first antenatal visit than those from the least deprived quintile. However, there is evidence to show that since 1999, there has been a decrease in the proportion of women from the most deprived quintile of postcode sectors who reported smoking at the start of pregnancy.

Urban Rural analysis

Provisional data for 2001 shows that a higher proportion of women in urban areas smoke at the start of pregnancy. Some 29 per cent of women from large urban areas were smoking at the start of pregnancy compared to some 20 per cent from accessible rural areas.

(b) Low birth-weight babies

Since 1997/98, the percentage of low birth-weight singleton full term births has remained fairly stable at around 2.4 per cent of all singleton full term births. The figures exclude multiple births and those births which did not go to full term. Low birth-weight is defined as singleton full term births less than 2.5 kilograms.

Carstairs Deprivation Quintiles

Singleton full term babies born to mothers from the most deprived quintile of postcode sectors are more likely to be of low birth-weight than those born to mothers from the least deprived areas. In 2001/02, some 3.5 per cent of babies born to mothers from the most deprived areas were of low birth-weight compared to some 1.4 per cent of babies born to mothers from the least deprived areas.

Chart 5b: Percentage of low weight singleton full term births, 1996/97 - 2001/02

chart

Source: Information and Statistics Division : National Health Service in Scotland
Home births and births at non-NHS hospitals are excluded.
From 1998 where four or more babies are involved in a delivery, birth details are recorded for the first three babies delivered, prior to 1998 details for the first two babies were recorded.
Excludes births with less than 37 completed weeks gestation.
p Provisional; r Revised

Urban Rural analysis

Provisional data for 2001/02 shows that there are differences in the percentages of singleton low birth-weight babies between urban and rural areas. Some 2.9 per cent of births in large urban areas were low birth-weight, compared to some 1.5 per cent in rural areas.

(c) Proportion of women breastfeeding

There is some evidence to show that since 1999, there has been a small increase in the percentage of women breastfeeding 6 to 8 weeks after the birth of their child. The figures below were submitted by 8, 9, or 10 of the 15 Health Boards. Given the coverage, conclusions about the levels across Scotland should be considered carefully.

Table 5c: Percentage breastfeeding after 6-8 weeks, 1995 - 2002

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002 p

Percentage

29.1

32.3

33.4

34.4

34.6

35.4

35.1

36.5

Source: Information and Statistics Division

: National Health Service in Scotland
The figures cover 8 of the 15 Health Boards in Scotland prior to 1997 and 9 of the 15 Health Boards from 1997 to 1999 and 10 of the 15 Boards from 2000.
The information includes breastfed and a mixture of breastfed and bottle fed.
The figure for 2002 is provisional

Information is also available on the levels of breastfeeding on or around 7 days after birth. This shows a rise in the percentage of babies that were breastfed at 7 days of age from some 43 per cent in 1999 to some 46 per cent in 2002. This information is collected nationally through the Guthrie card, which is completed when babies are screened for a range of metabolic diseases.

Table 5d: Percentage breastfeeding at or around 7 days after birth, 1995 - 2002

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

Percentage

40.5

41.1

42.0

42.9

43.1

44.3

43.2

45.5

Source: National Health Service in Scotland
Notes: Data collated by PEACH, Yorkhill Hospital
The information includes breastfed and a mixture of breastfed and bottle fed.

Carstairs Deprivation Quintiles

There is a clear association between levels of breastfeeding and area deprivation. Mothers from more deprived areas were much less likely to be breastfeeding at 6 to 8 weeks after the birth of their baby than women from least deprived areas. There is some evidence to show that levels of breastfeeding have seen small increases across all types of areas since 1999.

Chart 5e: Percentage of women breastfeeding at 6-8 weeks by Carstairs deprivation quintile, 1995 - 2002

chart

Source: Information and Statistics Division : National Health Service in Scotland
The figures cover 8 of the 15 Health Boards in Scotland prior to 1997 and 9 of the 15 Health Boards from 1997 to 1999 and 10 of the 15 Boards from 2000.
The information includes breastfed and a mixture of breastfed and bottle fed.
The figure for 2002 is provisional

(d)Dental decay among 5 year olds

There is no new information available on dental decay among 5 year olds. Information for 2002/03 is expected to be available by the end of 2003.

Table 5f: Percentage of 5 year olds free from dental caries, 1987/88 - 1999/00

Males

Females

All

1987/88

41.4

43.4

42.4

1989/90

38.5

43.5

40.8

1991/92

42.0

42.3

41.8

1993/94

37.4

39.0

38.2

1995/96

41.3

41.4

41.4

1997/98

43.6

42.8

43.3

1999/00

44.7

45.4

45.1

Source: Dental Health Services Research Unit: University of Dundee

Background Data

The following background data corresponds to the charts and commentary included in this milestone.

Table 5g: Women Smoking at the start of pregnancy by Carstairs deprivation quintile, 1994 - 2001; and Smoking at the start of pregnancy by urban rural, 2001

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998r

1999r

2000r

2001r

Least Deprived - 1

14.5

14.9

14.8

15.1

14.4

14.5

14.6

14.6

2

22.9

23.1

23.6

22.4

23.2

22.1

22.2

22.5

3

29.5

29.0

29.8

28.7

28.0

28.7

28.3

27.6

4

35.5

34.6

34.8

36.0

34.4

33.5

33.4

33.7

Most Deprived - 5

43.4

44.1

44.9

43.3

41.5

40.0

38.3

37.9

2001

Large Urban Areas

29.4

Other Urban Areas

29.0

Accessible Small Towns

27.1

Remote Small Towns

28.5

Accessible Rural Areas

20.4

Remote Rural Areas

18.3

Source: Information and Statistics Division : National Health Service in Scotland
Home births and births at non-NHS hospitals are excluded.
Data on smoking behaviour is based on self reporting information obtained at the first antenatal visit to hospital
These national figures include a small amount of estimation from some Health Boards
r Revised

Table 5h: Percentage of full term low birth weight babies, 1975/76 - 2001/02

Males

Females

All

Singleton

Multiple

Singleton

Multiple

Singleton

Multiple

1975/76

2.8

34.1

4.4

36.5

3.6

35.3

1976/77

2.7

24.4

4.1

42.0

3.4

33.0

1977/78

2.6

29.6

3.7

40.1

3.2

34.7

1978/79

2.6

30.9

3.6

37.4

3.1

34.0

1979/80

2.6

28.9

3.5

32.6

3.0

30.8

1980/81

2.3

26.1

3.5

27.5

2.9

26.7

1981/82

2.1

25.8

3.2

39.6

2.7

32.3

1982/83

2.2

24.8

3.3

36.4

2.8

30.5

1983/84

2.2

27.8

3.1

36.6

2.6

32.1

1984/85

2.0

25.5

3.0

32.9

2.5

29.0

1985/86

2.2

28.4

3.2

33.2

2.7

30.7

1986/87

2.1

28.0

3.1

35.5

2.6

32.2

1987/88

2.1

24.1

3.1

32.8

2.6

28.9

1988/89

1.9

22.3

3.1

29.2

2.5

25.8

1989/90

2.1

22.9

3.0

30.0

2.5

26.6

1990/91

2.0

27.3

2.9

35.5

2.5

31.4

1991/92

1.9

22.7

3.2

31.1

2.5

27.2

1992/93

1.9

23.4

2.9

32.5

2.4

27.9

1993/94

1.8

22.4

2.8

29.5

2.3

26.1

1994/95

1.9

20.6

3.0

30.9

2.4

26.0

1995/96

2.0

22.8

2.9

32.8

2.5

27.7

1996/97

1.8

23.9

2.8

27.8

2.3

25.8

1997/98 r

1.7

25.3

2.9

29.5

2.3

27.4

1998/99 r

1.9

26.4

2.9

29.5

2.4

28.0

1999/00 r

2.0

20.5

2.8

33.9

2.4

27.5

2000/01 r

1.8

18.8

2.9

37.3

2.3

28.2

2001/02 p

2.0

24.5

3.0

29.1

2.5

27.0

Source: Information and Statistics Division : National Health Service in Scotland
Home births and births at non-NHS hospitals are excluded.
From 1998 where four or more babies are involved in a delivery, birth details are recorded for the first three babies delivered, prior to 1998 details for the first two babies were recorded.
Excludes births with less than 37 completed weeks gestation.
p Provisional; r Revised;

Table 5i: Percentage of Singleton full term low birth weight babies by Carstairs deprivation quintile, 1990/91 - 2001/02; and Percentage of Singleton full term low birth weight babies by urban rural, 2001/02

1990/91

1991/92

1992/93

1993/94

1994/95

1996/97

1997/98r

1998/99r

1999/00r

2000/01r

2001/02,p

Least Deprived 1

1.8

1.8

1.3

1.4

1.7

1.7

1.5

1.4

1.4

1.6

1.4

2

2.0

1.8

2.1

1.9

1.8

1.8

1.9

1.7

1.8

1.9

1.7

3

2.3

2.3

2.4

2.2

2.4

2.6

2.3

2.3

2.3

2.2

2.4

4

2.7

3.1

3.0

2.7

2.8

2.9

2.6

2.4

2.6

2.9

2.7

Most Deprived 5

3.6

3.7

3.4

3.4

3.7

3.6

3.2

3.5

3.7

3.4

3.5

Large Urban Areas

2.9

Other Urban Areas

2.5

Accessible Small Towns

2.2

Remote Small Towns

1.8

Accessible Rural Areas

1.7

Remote Rural Areas

1.4

Source: Information and Statistics Division : National Health Service in Scotland
Home births and births at non-NHS hospitals are excluded.
From 1998 where four or more babies are involved in a delivery, birth details are recorded for the first three babies delivered, prior to 1998 details for the first two babies were recorded.
Excludes births with less than 37 completed weeks gestation.
p Provisional; r Revised;

Table 5j: Percentage breastfeeding after 6-8 weeks by Carstairs deprivation quintile, 1995 - 2002

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002p

Least Deprived 1

49.0

53.6

53.7

56.0

55.7

55.6

54.6

56.0

2

37.2

40.6

41.1

43.0

42.6

43.3

42.7

44.1

3

29.0

31.4

33.7

34.2

34.0

35.4

34.9

36.2

4

21.2

24.8

25.8

25.7

26.6

27.5

26.8

28.6

Most Deprived 5

15.2

17.4

19.2

19.6

20.8

21.8

22.0

23.8

Source:

Information and Statistics Division : National Health Service in Scotland
The figures cover 8 of the 15 Health Boards in Scotland prior to 1997 and 9 of the 15 Health Boards from 1997 to 1999 and 10 of the 15 Boards from 2000.
The information includes breastfed and a mixture of breastfed and bottle fed.
p The figure for 2002 is provisional

Availability of data and references

Women and Children's health (incl. Sexual Health) Maternal smoking
http://www.show.scot.nhs.uk/isdonline/WCB/WCB_PREGNANCY/Matsmoke/maternal_smoking.htm

Scottish Health Statistics Births and Babies
http://www.isdscotland.org/isd/info3.jsp?pContentID=1022&p_applic=CCC&p_service=Content.show&

Scottish Health Statistics Breastfeeding
http://www.isdscotland.org/isd/info3.jsp?p_applic=CCC&p_service=Content.show&pContentID=1764&

GUTHRIE DATA BY HOSPITAL 1990 - 2001
http://www.show.scot.nhs.uk/breastfeed/GUTHRIE_PRINT_DATA.html

Dental Health Services Research Unit
http://www.dundee.ac.uk/dhsru/

Page updated: Tuesday, April 04, 2006