Mapping child poverty

The End Child Poverty campaign has published a (widely reported) map of child poverty in the UK. Levels are mapped by local authority area and (for maximum impact) parliamentary constituency. The Joseph Rowntree Foundation's annual monitoring poverty and social exclusion report makes for equally uncomfortable reading, noting a rise in fuel poverty and homelessness, as well as unemployment and underemployment. In a speech last month former Labour MP and now government advisor on social mobility and child poverty, Alan Milburn, predicted a rise in child poverty rates.

Migrant health

The Health Protection Agency (HPA)'s second report on migrant health notes that a small proportion of the UK's migrant population bears "the greatest burden of infectious disease reported in the UK". The report emphasises the important role primary care practitioners play in early identification of infectious diseases. Repeating the message from the previous baseline report, the HPA calls for primary care to ensure access to culturally competent and language supported services. A recent study of participation in a cervical screening programme by Polish, Slovak and Romanian women in London confirms this need for language support.

Cancer update

A study from the Cancer Research UK Cancer Survival Group asks how many cancer deaths in England would be avoided if socioeconomic inequalities were eliminated? Based on data covering 1996-2006, the researchers conclude that while avoidable deaths have reduced, the gap between rich and poor remains substantial: "over 60% of the total number of avoidable deaths occurred within six months after diagnosis and approximately 70% occurred in the two most deprived groups." Latest data from ONS (up to 2009) confirms the persistence in geographic inequalities in survival, with the north-south divide reduced but still in evidence. A more detailed study of socioeconomic inequalities in survival from breast cancer in South West England looks at whether inequalities are present in screening-detected cancer as well as in symptomatic women. The researchers found inequalities with screening detected diagnosis, but in a less marked way. Research on cancer spending amongst primary care organisations in South East England suggests spending was not so much associated with disease burden than activity: "Lower per capita spending on cancer was associated with smaller PCT populations and a higher proportion of deprived areas within them." Finally, a major study from Cancer Research UK examines causes of cancer in the UK in 2010: lifestyle appears to be a major culprit, accounting for over 40% of cancers diagnosed.

Family circle

Working with troubled families is a target area for current government policy. The Department for Education has published a report on family interventions, an intensive, multi-agency approach to tackling anti-social behaviour, worklessness and intergenerational disadvantage. An evaluation of the Parenting Early Intervention Pathfinder compares the effectiveness of 3 parenting programmes over a 2 year period. This large scale trial involved families over 18 local authorities, using the Incredible Years, Triple P and Strengthening Families Strengthening Communities programmes. A study published in BMC Health Services Research models the cost-effectiveness of parenting programmes designed to prevent conduct disorder.

Airways

The use of spirometry information in smoking cessation interventions has been the subject of a recently reported trial. The ESPITAP study, conducted in Spain, looked at the use of spirometry information in the context of structured motivational interviewing for smoking cessation, finding that this improved abstinence rates. One (admittedly quite limited) review also found that annual spirometry combined with a brief smoking cessation intervention was one of the more effective methods for COPD patients.

Health mapped

The second and substantially extended issue of the NHS Atlas of Variation has appeared, showing how use of healthcare varies in the UK across a range of conditions.

Fair's Fare latest issue

Fair's Fare issue 24 is now available from the EPHRU website.