Research output per year
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Abstract
Objective
To evaluate and provide a real-life view of the operation of the Healthy Start vitamins scheme.
Setting
The study took place in primary care and community settings that served rural, urban and ethnically diverse populations, in two sentinel sites: London, and Yorkshire and the Humber. An online consultation and stakeholder workshops elicited views from across England.
Participants
669 health and social care practitioners including health visitors, midwives, public health practitioners, general practitioners, paediatricians and support staff participated in focus group discussions (n=49) and an online consultation (n=620). 56 participants representing health and social care practitioners, policymakers, service commissioners, and voluntary and independent sectors took part in stakeholder workshops.
Methods
Three-phase multimethod study comprising focus group discussions, an online consultation and stakeholder workshops. Qualitative data were analysed thematically and quantitative data from the online survey were analysed using descriptive statistics.
Results
Study participants were concerned about the low uptake of Healthy Start vitamin supplements and the consequences of this for health outcomes for women and young children. They experienced Healthy Start vitamin distribution as logistically complex, requiring the time, resources and creative thinking of a range of local and regional practitioners from senior strategists to administrative support workers. In the light of this, many participants argued that moving to universal provision of vitamin supplements would be more cost-effective than the current system.
Conclusions
There is consistency of views of health practitioners that the current targeted system of providing free vitamin supplements for low-income childbearing women and young children via the Healthy Start programme is not fulfilling its potential to address vitamin deficiencies. There is wide professional and voluntary sector support for moving from the current targeted system to provision of free vitamin supplements for all pregnant and new mothers, and children up to their fifth birthday.
To evaluate and provide a real-life view of the operation of the Healthy Start vitamins scheme.
Setting
The study took place in primary care and community settings that served rural, urban and ethnically diverse populations, in two sentinel sites: London, and Yorkshire and the Humber. An online consultation and stakeholder workshops elicited views from across England.
Participants
669 health and social care practitioners including health visitors, midwives, public health practitioners, general practitioners, paediatricians and support staff participated in focus group discussions (n=49) and an online consultation (n=620). 56 participants representing health and social care practitioners, policymakers, service commissioners, and voluntary and independent sectors took part in stakeholder workshops.
Methods
Three-phase multimethod study comprising focus group discussions, an online consultation and stakeholder workshops. Qualitative data were analysed thematically and quantitative data from the online survey were analysed using descriptive statistics.
Results
Study participants were concerned about the low uptake of Healthy Start vitamin supplements and the consequences of this for health outcomes for women and young children. They experienced Healthy Start vitamin distribution as logistically complex, requiring the time, resources and creative thinking of a range of local and regional practitioners from senior strategists to administrative support workers. In the light of this, many participants argued that moving to universal provision of vitamin supplements would be more cost-effective than the current system.
Conclusions
There is consistency of views of health practitioners that the current targeted system of providing free vitamin supplements for low-income childbearing women and young children via the Healthy Start programme is not fulfilling its potential to address vitamin deficiencies. There is wide professional and voluntary sector support for moving from the current targeted system to provision of free vitamin supplements for all pregnant and new mothers, and children up to their fifth birthday.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | e006917 |
| Number of pages | 7 |
| Journal | BMJ Open |
| Volume | 5 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 8 Jan 2015 |
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Dive into the research topics of 'Healthy Start vitamins—a missed opportunity: findings of a multimethod study'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.Research output
- 14 Citations
- 3 Commissioned report
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Healthy Start: understanding the use of vouchers and vitamins: summary for families
McFadden, A., Fox-Rushby, J., Green, J. M., Pokhrel, S., McLeish, J., McCormick, F., Anokye, N., Dritsaki, M., McCarthy, R., Bennett, S., Entwistle, F. & Renfrew, M. J. (Lead / Corresponding author), May 2013, Dundee: University of Dundee. 5 p.Research output: Book/Report › Commissioned report
Open AccessFile -
Healthy Start: understanding the use of vouchers and vitamins
McFadden, A., Fox-Rushby, J., Green, J. M., Pokhrel, S., McLeish, J., McCormick, F., Anokye, N., Dritsaki, M., McCarthy, R., Bennett, S., Entwistle, F. & Renfrew, M. J. (Lead / Corresponding author), May 2013, Dundee: University of Dundee. 378 p.Research output: Book/Report › Commissioned report
Open AccessFile -
Healthy Start: understanding the use of vouchers and vitamins: summary for practitioners
McFadden, A., Fox-Rushby, J., Green, J. M., Pokhrel, S., McLeish, J., McCormick, F., Anokye, N., Dritsaki, M., McCarthy, R., Bennett, S., Entwistle, F. & Renfrew, M. J. (Lead / Corresponding author), May 2013, Dundee: University of Dundee. 12 p.Research output: Book/Report › Commissioned report
File
Press/Media
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Fruit and vegetable vouchers could buy poorer people a more nutritious diet
18/03/15
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Research
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