Are parents getting advice about Healthy Start and Vitamin D?

Jan DawsonCaroline Smith

Qualitative study of parent’s views

• To gather parent’s views on advice & where they would like to obtain their vitamins as part of Greater Manchester work on Healthy Start

• 146 parents & parents-to-be questioned across GM

• Different settings and areas over past month• One of three questionnaires completed by

face to face contact

Pregnancy Q Under 6m Q 6m-4 Q0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

Numbers in Qualitative study

Num

bers

Findings

• 26 out of 146 receiving Healthy Start vouchers• 14 of the 26 do not claim the vitamins• In pregnancy 34 parents purchased/ or had

purchased other pregnancy related vitamins• 10 parents bought children’s vitamins

containing vitamin D• Of these 3 were receiving Healthy Start

vouchers

Total poulation Number receiving Number claiming vitamins0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

Healthy start vouchers & vitaminsN

umbe

rs

Significant Findings

• Only 76 out of 146 parents had had someone discuss Healthy Start with them

• 24 families appeared to be entitled to Healthy Start and needed to apply

• 4 families needed to chase their applications

Parent’s preferences for stockists of vitamins

The most common place:• Supermarket including supermarket pharmacy• Community Pharmacy• General Practitioner’s surgery• Health Centre

Different Practices of Health Professionals

• Serological testing whole population• Symptomatic investigations• Treat universally with Vitamin D• Do nothing

Issues from study

• Access to vitamins currently an issue (stocks in Health centres, manufacturers supply)• Parents not aware it is a voucher – no value• Professionals poorly informed (Lack of CPD, training)• Healthy Start & vitamin D do not appear in service

specifications – not part of job!• No follow up by professionals following application• Time issues for professionals• Professionals making judgements about income levels

Possible next steps depending on HIA

• Public campaign to raise awareness of vitamin D and Healthy Start

• Systematic training programme for all social care and NHS professionals including CPD

• Student training• Work with Department of Health around

vouchers