Page 21 - NCPHWR Annual Report 2017-18_Neat

Case Studies

Early Birth and the Risk of Hospital Admissions Due
ACTIVE Project
to Breathing Problems

An Overview of the Project vouchers to do fun, social activities that did A team of researchers from the NCPHWR investigated the association of early premature birth
Funded by the British Heart Foundation not require prior skills (like trampolining or and the risk of emergency hospital admissions for breathing problems during childhood.
and supported by the NCPHWR, the ACTIVE going to the water park). The study found
project aimed to tackle inactivity by giving 65% of the teenagers were unfit and in the
teenagers vouchers to spend on physical control group this increased by 5% over The Challenge The Results
activities of their choice to reduce the time the year. Teenagers are almost entirely Premature birth (when a baby is born The results of the study showed that the
spent sedentary and lower the risk of heart autonomously motivated i.e. they do activity before the 37 week mark) is associated with risk of admission to hospital with breathing
disease. The project was designed to change because they want to and not because breathing problems, impairment in growth problems decreased with each week up to 40
the attitudes of young people, encouraging someone tells them to or makes them feel and development of the brain or central to 42 weeks; meaning that the health risks to
teenagers to embrace alternative activities – guilty. External pressures will not work nervous system and can affect educational the baby are reduced for infants born later in
whether it is dancing, trampolining, swimming to get teenagers in deprived areas active. outcomes. Premature birth rates have pregnancy.
or skateboarding. By giving this group a Empowering teenagers to access activity they increased over the last 10 years and the long
choice, ACTIVE aimed to empower teenagers want to do with their friends appears to be a term effects and implications for health Even at 39 weeks there was an increased
to take ownership of their behaviours and step in the right direction to improve fitness are a concern for doctors and public health risk of emergency hospital admissions for
tailor activity directly to what the individual and activity in teenagers. officials. breathing problems compared to babies born
enjoyed. at 40–42 weeks.
The Impact The Research
Aim of the Project Researchers identified impact across all Many studies have focused on babies born The Impact
The ACTIVE Project aimed to improve stakeholders from pupils, teachers and before 32 weeks but there are few studies The research demonstrated the rich insights
the fitness and heart health of teenagers activity providers. Discussing the impact the for those born between 34–36 weeks. This that can be gained from studying large scale
in Swansea through a multi-component results could have on the provision of local research project studied births ranging linked health records to explore the causes
intervention. Each year 9 pupil received £20 authority Sports development providers, from before 32 weeks up to 42 weeks of of disease and healthcare use in children,
worth of activity vouchers a month to spend identified the impact. pregnancy. particularly focusing on age at birth.
on existing activity provision, to create their The team has been able to improve
own or to spend on equipment. This was “Our focus now is to use the results to shape The team of researchers studied health understanding of the number of infants
facilitated by a support worker and peer and inform our planning or our areas of records for 318,613 children born in Wales affected.
mentor scheme. work in terms of barriers participation what between 1998 and 2008. These records were
the barriers are, and it is for us as a team made anonymous so that individuals couldn’t The number of children under 5 with
The Results really to tackle those issues and look at be identified. breathing problems linked to early birth is
The early findings have shown that giving programmes on how we address them within significantly large and as a result has an
our delivery.” (Council Focus Group)
teenagers the financial ability to access The study focused on emergency admissions impact on health services and costs to the
activities improved their fitness (compared Further funding is now being sourced to to hospital for breathing problems in children NHS.
to children in schools who did not have identify the impact that removing some of up to the age of 5 years old.
the vouchers) and improved blood pressure these barriers will have on the fitness of
and vascular health. Teenagers used their
those young people involved.

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