IPH action areas in health inequalities: giving every child the best start in life

How does giving every child the best start in life affect health inequalities?

"Investment in the early years provides one of the greatest potential to reduce health inequities within a generation"

Sir Michael Marmot, 2010

The term 'early child development’ refers to a child’s physical, language and cognitive, social and emotional development from the womb to eight years of age. A child’s experience in the womb and in these early years has implications for their health in childhood and adult life.  Social inequalities in early life are a major contributor to health inequalities later on. Children’s development can be stunted when they grow up in disadvantage and these effects are often compounded rather than remedied when they enter the public education system.

IPH has put forward 'Giving every child the best start in life' as a key action area in our Corporate Plan 2010-2013. In particular we hope to promote a focus on children and young people from a health inequalities perspective.

Giving every child the best start in life and health inequalities: IPH portfolio

• Unequal at birth: Inequalities in the occurrence of low birthweight babies in Ireland
• Health impacts of education report 
• IPH consultation responses including submissions on the strategy for children in Northern Ireland, Growing Up in Ireland and State of the Nations Children
• IPH consultation response on the Northern Ireland early years strategy (0-6) November 2010 

How can I learn more about giving every child the best start in life and health inequalities?

Recommended reading

• Early Child Development: A Powerful Equaliser. Final report of the Early Child Development
• Knowledge Network (WHO Commission on Social Determinants of Health)
• The timing of early childhood intervention – how early is early?
• Families Matter: Supporting Families in Northern Ireland

Useful websites

• Office of the Minister for Children
• OFMDFM Children and Young Peoples Unit
• Early Years Northern Ireland
• In December 2008 the United Nations’ Children’s Fund, Unicef, released a report card documenting how well the richest 25 countries were doing in supporting early child development. Canada tied with Ireland for last place. Listen to what the Canadian experts had to say here.