Pre-School Children (Hansard, 27 October 1976)

§ Mr. Moyle

Details of research my Department is currently sponsoring in these fields are given below. In addition, my Department's Childrens' Research Liaison Group has set up a working party to consider infant and perinatal mortality and morbidity and to advise on future research priorities.

I. INFANT MORTALITY AND MORBIDITY

i. A multicentre study of post perinatal deaths is being carried out under the direction of Professor Knowlden at Sheffield University. Detailed enquiries into each death are being conducted matching the characteristics of children who died with a control group. The objective of the research is to identify the factors contributing to death and the formulation of preventive measures.
ii. Dr. J. Colley at Bristol University is carrying out a three year study of OPCS paediatric morbidity and mortality data and a two year analysis of data collected in Aylesbury about nutrition and respiratory problems in children.
iii. Professor Reynolds at University College Hospital is studying the effect of intensive care on the outcome of infants of very low birth-weight suffering serious perinatal illness and other hazards, with the aim of finding out what may be achieved, under optimal conditions of perinatal care, in the prevention of mental and physical handicap, and in the planning of perinatal services in the country as a whole.
iv. Professor Ashford, of Exeter University, is studying statistical analysis of perinatal and neo-natal mortality and the relationship between perinatal mortality, birthweight, place of confinement and other factors, in the South of England.
v. Professor Butler, at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children Bristol, is carrying out a study of social and biological factors affecting perinatal mortality in England and Wales and a comparative study of similar data from certain other countries.
vi. Dr. Eva Alberman at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine is carrying out a study to measure the success of medical care in reducing the mortality and morbidity of babies weighing 2,000 grammes or less at birth.
vii. The Medical Care Research Unit, at Newcastle University, is trying, under Professor Newell, to identify factors which contribute to the City's high rate of perinatal mortality.
viii. Professors Holland and Morrell at St. Thomas Hospital Medical School are currently studying the characteristics of infants seen in General practice suffering acute lower respiratory disease in their first year of life.
ix. Professor Holland is also investigating the influence of certain perinatal factors and the factors during birth and the post-natal period in the aetiology of mental subnormality.
x. Dr. J. S. Wigglesworth is analysing and preparing a report on existing data in the Perinatal Data Bank at Hammersmith Hospital.
xi. Dr. Roma Chamberlain, at the Paediatric Unit, St. Mary's Hospital Medical School, is using data collected in the Bristol Births Survey of April 1970 to analyse the use made of hospital services by a national sample of children from birth to age 3½ years; to evaluate the effectiveness of screening procedures, and the use of at risk factors at birth.
xii. Professors Cohen and Poswillo at the Royal College of Surgeons are carrying out an investigation into the teratogenic effects of agriculture disinfestants, androgenic hormones, cytotoxic and other suspected human teratogens.
xiii. Professor Sir Stanley Clayton at Kings College Hospital Medical School is studying the distribution, metabolism and antagonism of prostaglandins in the human uterus and their release into the blood stream and amniotic fluid.
xiv. Sir Richard Doll at Oxford University is directing the Oxford Pregnancy Study, the objectives of which are to measure specific substances in the antenatal and umbilical cord sera in relation to the outcome of pregnancy.
xv. Professor Cochrane and Dr. Elwood at the University of Wales are carrying out an evaluation trial of supplementary milk in pregnancy and infancy.
xvi. Professor Stern at St. Georges Hospital Medical School is studying epidemiology and clinical patterns of cytomegalovirus infection to determine the mechanism of the spread of cytomegalovirus and its importance as a cause of disease and to develop methods of prevention.
xvii. Professors Wibberley and Edwards at the University of Aston are studying toxic hazards and congenital malformations.
xviii Professor Harris, at Alder Hey Children's Hospital, Liverpool, is operating the Liverpool Congenital Malformations Register the object of which is to record as accurately as possible the occurrence of all congenital malformations within a defined population.
xix Drs. C. Davidson and Hawcroft also at Alder Hey Children's Hospital, Liverpool are 295 maintaining a Phenylketonuria register on behalf of the Medical Research Council and DHSS.
xx. Professor Wolff at the Institute of Child Health is conducting research into Phenylketonuria which includes investigations of the factors which influence intellectual outcome in early treated phenylketonuria, the effect of stopping dietary treatment, the effect of treatment on patients with the disease present after the first three months of life and the use of anino acid preparation as a protein substitute in the treatment of infants with the disease.

2. NUTRITIONAL ASPECTS

i. Dr. C. Brook, at the Middlesex Hospital, is studying in twins, siblings and parents heredity and environment in the determination of body fat.
ii. Dr. Naismith Department of Nutrition Queen Elizabeth College is studying bottle fed babies with special reference to essential fatty acid requirements.
iii. Professor Waterlow in the Department of Nutrition, at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine is undertaking a survey of growth in pre-school children.

3. PSYCHOLOGICAL ASPECTS

i. Dr. McGurk, at Surrey University is studying the significance of temporary separation at birth for subsequent maternal attachment behaviour and infant psychological development.
ii. Dr. Robinson at West Sussex Area Health Authority is studying the physical and psycho logical effects of separating babies in special care from their mothers, in an attempt to establish the factors that influenced mothers visiting their babies in special care units and how these factors relate to the future care of the baby and its well being.

4. COMMUNITY HEALTH SERVICES FOR CHILDREN

i. Professor T. E. Oppe of St. Mary's Hospital Medical School is undertaking research into comprehensive medical and social services for pre-school children and their families (allied to a social research programme being carried out by Professor Tizard at the Thomas Coram Research Unit).
ii. Professor A. D. B. Clarke at Hull University is carrying out a home based intervention programme which includes advice to parents of severely subnormal pre-school children.
iii. Drs. Newson and Jolly at Charing Cross Hospital are conducting research into support and liaison for the parents of handicapped children. The aim is to establish and identify where a special need exists and what innovatory procedures or services might meet that need, and to carry out the innovations in such a way that they provide a realistic model for future services, that their usefulness can be rationally evaluated and that problems and benefits can be carefully monitored.