Impact of exposure to opioids in pregnancy on offspring developmental outcomes in the preschool years: an umbrella review.

Background: Early child development sets the course for optimal outcomes across life. Increasing numbers of children worldwide are exposed to opioids in pregnancy and frequently live in environments associated with adverse developmental outcomes. Although multiple systematic reviews have been published in this area, they use different exposures and different types of outcomes.

Impact of adverse childhood experiences on sensory thresholds in adults living with multimorbidity and chronic pain (the ACE-MAP study): protocol for an observational feasibility study.

Introduction: Exposure to adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) is associated with a range of poor long-term health outcomes, including multimorbidity and chronic pain. Epidemiological evidence underpins much of this relationship; however, psychophysical testing methods, such as quantitative sensory testing (QST), may provide valuable insights into potential mechanisms. Previous studies have shown inconsistent links between ACEs and QST, but the QST profiles of people with multimorbidity have not been reported.

Clinical and cost-effectiveness of parenting intervention for mothers experiencing psychosocial stress: insights from the early closure of the Mellow Babies RCT.

Background: Problems in children's early social and emotional development are likely to have major long-term consequences for the individual and society: maternal emotional well-being is associated with better outcomes. Interventions designed to improve both maternal mental health and the mother-child relationship are thus likely to benefit both maternal health and child development.

Objectives: To establish the clinical and cost-effectiveness of the Mellow Babies parenting intervention for women experiencing psychosocial stress and their 6- to 18-month-old babies.

The influence of maternal long term health conditions including multimorbidity on child oral health: A scoping review and evidence gap map protocol.

Objective: This scoping review will map the extent and type of evidence in relation to the association between maternal long term health conditions (LTCs), including multimorbidity, and child oral health.

Introduction: Newer theories are emerging that detail the many factors that can influence child oral health at child, family and community levels. More recently, the association between maternal general health and child oral health has been explored, with preliminary evidence suggesting a link between shared environmental factors and diet/substance use during pregnancy causing childhood caries.

Impact of adverse childhood experiences on analgesia-related outcomes: a systematic review.

Background: There is well-established evidence linking adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and chronic pain in adulthood. It is less clear how ACE exposure might influence the response to chronic pain treatment. In this systematic review, we synthesise the literature assessing the impact of ACE exposure on outcomes relating to the use, benefits, and harms of analgesic medications (analgesia-related outcomes).

The impact of adverse childhood experiences on multimorbidity: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) have been implicated in the aetiology of a range of health outcomes, including multimorbidity. In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we aimed to identify, synthesise, and quantify the current evidence linking ACEs and multimorbidity.

Methods: We searched seven databases from inception to 20 July 2023: APA PsycNET, CINAHL Plus, Cochrane CENTRAL, Embase, MEDLINE, Scopus, and Web of Science.

Prenatal maternal infections and early childhood developmental outcomes: analysis of linked administrative health data for Greater Glasgow & Clyde, Scotland.

Background: Previous research has linked prenatal maternal infections to later childhood developmental outcomes and socioemotional difficulties. However, existing studies have relied on retrospectively self-reported survey data, or data on hospital-recorded infections only, resulting in gaps in data collection.

Methods: This study used a large linked administrative health dataset, bringing together data from birth records, hospital records, prescriptions and routine child health reviews for 55,856 children born in Greater Glasgow & Clyde, Scotland, 2011-2015, and their mothers.

Development of an outcome indicator framework for a universal health visiting programme using routinely collected data.

Background: Universal health visiting has been a cornerstone of preventative healthcare for children in the United Kingdom (UK) for over 100 years. In 2016, Scotland introduced a new Universal Health Visiting Pathway (UHVP), involving a greater number of contacts with a particular emphasis on the first year, visits within the home setting, and rigorous developmental assessment conducted by a qualified Health Visitor. To evaluate the UHVP, an outcome indicator framework was developed using routine administrative data.

Investigating low birth weight and preterm birth as potential mediators in the relationship between prenatal infections and early child development: a linked administrative health data analysis.

Background: Prenatal infections are associated with childhood developmental outcomes such as reduced cognitive abilities, emotional problems and other developmental vulnerabilities. However, there is currently a lack of research examining whether this arises due to potential intermediary variables like low birth weight or preterm birth, or due to some other mechanisms of maternal immune activation arising from prenatal infections.

Methods: Administrative data from the National Health Service health board of Greater Glasgow & Clyde, Scotland, were used, linking birth records to hospital records and universal child health review records for 55 534 children born from 2011 to 2015, and their mothers.

Data resource profile: the Edinburgh Child Protection Dataset - a new linked administrative data source of children referred to Child Protection paediatric services in Edinburgh, Scotland.

Introduction: Child maltreatment affects a substantial number of children. However current evidence relies on either longitudinal studies, which are complex and resource-intensive, or linked data studies based on social services data, which is arguably the tip of the iceberg in terms of children who are maltreated. Reliable, linked, population-level data on children referred to services due to suspected abuse or neglect will increase our ability to examine risk factors for, and outcomes following, abuse and neglect.

Antenatal care of women who use opioids: a qualitative study of practitioners' perceptions of strengths and challenges of current service provision in Scotland.

Background: The increasing rise of women using opioids during pregnancy across the world has warranted concern over the access and quality of antenatal care received by this group. Scotland has particularly high levels of opioid use, and correspondingly, pregnancies involving women who use opioids. The purpose of this study was to investigate the different models of antenatal care for women using opioids during pregnancy in three Scottish Health Board Areas, and to explore multi-disciplinary practitioners' perceptions of the strengths and challenges of working with women who use opioids through these specialist services.

Short Report: Exploring the extent to which Intellectual Disability is undiagnosed within children attending developmental paediatric clinics.

Intellectual Disability is under-ascertained worldwide and is associated with greater physical and mental health difficulties. This research aimed to identify clinical features and characteristics of children with Intellectual Disability in a population of 126 6-18 year olds in mainstream school, attending paediatric developmental clinics. Intellectual Disability was defined according to the DSM-5 (deficits in intellectual and adaptive functioning, present during childhood).

Mapping Geographic Trends in Early Childhood Social, Emotional, and Behavioural Difficulties in Glasgow: 2010-2017.

Measuring variation in childhood mental health supports the development of local early intervention strategies. The methodological approach used to investigate mental health trends (often determined by the availability of individual level data) can affect decision making. We apply two approaches to identify geographic trends in childhood social, emotional, and behavioural difficulties using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ).

Validity of Scottish predictors of child obesity (age 12) for risk screening in mid-childhood: a secondary analysis of prospective cohort study data-with sensitivity analyses for settings without various routinely collected predictor variables.

Objective: To analyse the Growing Up in Scotland cohort for predictors of obesity at age 12, present at school entry (age 5-6).

Methods: The initial model included literature-based risk factors likely to be routinely collected in high-income countries (HICs), as well as "Adverse/Protective Childhood Experiences (ACEs/PCEs)". Missing data were handled by Multiple Chained Equations.

Impact of COVID-19 public health safety measures on births in Scotland between March and May 2020.

Objective: To combat the widespread transmission of COVID-19, many countries, including the United Kingdom, have imposed nationwide lockdowns. Little is known about how these public health safety measures affect pregnant mothers and their offspring. This study aimed to explore the impact of COVID-19 public health safety measures on births in Scotland.

The predictive value of universal preschool developmental assessment in identifying children with later educational difficulties: A systematic review.

Background: Developmental delay affects substantial proportions of children. It can generally be identified in the pre-school years and can impact on children's educational outcomes, which in turn may affect outcomes across the life span. High income countries increasingly assess children for developmental delay in the early years, as part of universal child health programmes, however there is little evidence as to which measures best predict later educational outcomes.

Study protocol: a mixed-methods realist evaluation of the Universal Health Visiting Pathway in Scotland.

Introduction: The growing political emphasis on the early years reflects the importance of these formative years of life. Health visitors in the UK are uniquely positioned to improve health outcomes for children and families and to reduce health inequalities. Recently, there has been a policy change in Scotland in an attempt to enhance the delivery of the universal health visiting service.

Cohort study of high maternal body mass index and the risk of adverse pregnancy and delivery outcomes in Scotland.

Objective: To examine the association between high maternal weight status and complications during pregnancy and delivery.

Setting: Scotland.

Participants: Data from 132 899 first-time singleton deliveries in Scotland between 2008 and 2015 were used.

Preschool developmental concerns and adjustment in the early school years: Evidence from a Scottish birth cohort.

Background: Preschool language and behavioural difficulties impact on multiple domains of the child's early life and can endure into adulthood, predicting poor educational, social, and health outcomes. Highlighting risk factors associated with poor outcomes following language and behavioural difficulties raised in early childhood may facilitate early identification and intervention.

Methods: Data from the Growing Up in Scotland national birth cohort study were used.

How community resources mitigate the association between household poverty and the incidence of adverse childhood experiences.

Objectives: To assess what proportion of the association between household low income and incidence of adverse childhood experiences (ACE) would be eliminated if all households had access to housing, transportation and childcare services, breastfeeding counselling, and parks.

Methods: Using Growing Up in Scotland birth cohort data (N = 2816), an inverse probability-weighted regression-based mediation technique was applied to assess associations between low-income status (< £11,000 in 2004/5), resource access, and cumulative 8-year ACE incidence (≥ 1, ≥ 3 ACEs). Resource access was measured based on households' self-reported difficulties (yes/no) in accessing housing, transportation, childcare, and breastfeeding counselling, and park proximity (within 10 min from the residence).

Factors associated with adverse childhood experiences in Scottish children: a prospective cohort study.

Background And Objectives: Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) have been associated with a range of poorer health and social outcomes throughout the life course; however, to date they have primarily been conducted retrospectively in adulthood. This paper sets out to determine the prevalence of ACEs at age 8 in a recent prospective birth cohort and examine associations between risk factors in the first year and cumulative ACEs.

Design: This study uses the Growing Up in Scotland Birth Cohort 1, in which children born in Scotland in 2004/5 were identified using Child Benefit Records and followed up for 7 years (n.

Predictive validity of preschool screening tools for language and behavioural difficulties: A PRISMA systematic review.

Background: Preschool screening for developmental difficulties is increasingly becoming part of routine health service provision and yet the scope and validity of tools used within these screening assessments is variable. The aim of this review is to report on the predictive validity of preschool screening tools for language and behaviour difficulties used in a community setting.

Methods: Studies reporting the predictive validity of language or behaviour screening tools in the preschool years were identified through literature searches of Ovid Medline, Embase, EBSCO CINAHL, PsycInfo and ERIC.

Credibility of subgroup analyses by socioeconomic status in public health intervention evaluations: An underappreciated problem?

There is increasing interest amongst researchers and policy makers in identifying the effect of public health interventions on health inequalities by socioeconomic status (SES). This issue is typically addressed in evaluation studies through subgroup analyses, where researchers test whether the effect of an intervention differs according to the socioeconomic status of participants. The credibility of such analyses is therefore crucial when making judgements about how an intervention is likely to affect health inequalities, although this issue appears to be rarely considered within public health.

Pathways into and out of overweight and obesity from infancy to mid-childhood.

Objectives: To investigate whether high weight in infancy predicts obesity in childhood.

Method: Data from two UK cohorts (Newcastle Growth and Development N = 795, Gateshead Millennium N = 393) and one Finnish (Tampere N = 1262) were combined. Z scores of weight at 3 and 12 months and body mass index (BMI) at 5 and 8 years were categorized as raised/overweight (1 to <2 SD) or high/obese (≥2 SD).