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Erschienen in:
01.12.2013 | Overview
Towards a re-orientation of the Austrian ‘Parent–child preventive care programme’
Erschienen in: Journal of Public Health | Ausgabe 6/2013
Einloggen, um Zugang zu erhaltenAbstract
Aim
In 1974, a preventive care programme for expectant mothers and children was introduced in Austria: the ‘mother-child-pass’. The aim of this study was to provide the Austrian Ministry of Health with a decision support for adapting the parent–child screening policy regarding contemporary medical and social health threats.
Subjects and methods
We gathered epidemiological data mainly via searching websites and reference lists by hand. In terms of ante- and postnatal screening practices, nine European experts provided information via a survey. With regard to financing, we conducted interviews with national experts and analysed policy documents.
Results
Our analysis showed a lack of epidemiological data on health threats affecting pregnant women and children from Austria. However, we identified four populations of women at risk, depending on age, socioeconomic situation, pre-existing chronic diseases or addictive disorders, and multiple pregnancies and preterm births. Unlike Austria, several European countries offer additional parent–child screenings focussing on sociomedical risk factors. Regarding financing, several publicly financed in-kind services and monetary transfers exist during pregnancy and early childhood with little coordination between them. Public expenditure is highest for hospital care and monetary benefits.
Conclusion
A parent–child preventive care programme which is primarily ‘medically oriented’ fails to identify particular populations at high risk of sociomedical health threats. Furthermore, the re-orientation of the Austrian ‘mother-child-pass’ may require the consideration of health visiting programmes to provide ‘easy-to-access’ services. From an economic perspective, the evidence suggests that a re-allocation of resources, i.e., from monetary transfers to in-kind services, is preferable.