Health Problems of children in out of home care - results from a health screening clinic

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Authors

Dania Nathansan
Dimitra Tzioumi

Speaker

Dimitra Tzioumi

Organisation

Child Protection at Sydney Children's Hospital

Children in out of home care are known to be a vulnerable group of the population. It is well described that they have high, unrecognized and unmet health needs. The combination of exposure to abuse and neglect and a background of social disadvantage place them at significant risk for poor health. This affects physical, developmental and emotional health.

Children in out of home care in NSW have not been receiving an internationally recommended comprehensive health service. The Child Protection Unit at Sydney Children's Hospital has set up a pilot project, the Health Screening Clinic for Children in Out of Home Care. We offer these children a comprehensive physical, developmental and emotional health screen.

Results collected to date indicate that the children we see have significant problems. Of the first 29 children seen, 50% had incomplete immunizations, 14% visual problems, 38% dental caries, 30% hearing loss, 30% developmental delay, 30% significant behavioural problems and 2 children had significant medical problems. The clinic will be evaluated at the end of 2005, and we expect to show that the health outcomes for children in out of home care are improved as a result of this service.

Note - results will be updated once the clinic is evaluated.

Presentation

Paper

Biography

Dania Nathanson is a paediatric Fellow in Child Protection at Sydney Children's Hospital. Dimitra Tzioumi is a Paediatrician and Director of the Child Protection Unit, Sydney Children's Hospital. Together and in consultation with the Department of Community Services in New South Wales, they have set up and run a health screening clinic for children in out of home care.