A data system created to serve as a unique longitudinal profile of child demographic information in New Zealand has contributed to improving equity in basic child health care.
This relationship has been explored recently article published in the Journal of Pediatrics and Child Health.
DETECT
The National Children’s Health Information Platform tracks milestones achieved by every child enrolled in school in Northland, Waitematā and Auckland from birth to six years of age.
Analyzing key data, the study shows a notable increase in pediatric GP registration rates from 2018 to 2021 in communities covered by the NCHIP compared to areas without NCHIP.
It also noted a smaller recent decline in eight-month vaccination coverage for children during the pandemic in areas tracked by NCHIP.
According to the researchers, these findings demonstrate the population-level benefits, especially in health equity, of systems that integrate information on child health care milestones like NCHIP.
THE LARGER CONTEXT
In New Zealand, children are eligible for 30 key health checks – including metabolic screening and vaccinations, from birth to six years old to ensure their healthy development.
In the past, tracking these critical screening steps was a challenge because data sharing between providers was largely relationship-based while organizations kept health screening data on their own. independently.
In 2020, the then District Health Boards in the northern regions of New Zealand partnered with Orion Health to roll out NCHIP. The cloud-based system now provides a holistic view of the milestones achieved by children and the care provider relationship. Domestic newborns are also automatically registered for NCHIP through local birth registration.
