Inequalities in child development at school entry: A repeated cross-sectional analysis of the Australian Early Development Census 2009–2018

Luke R. Collier; Tess Gregory; Yasmin Harman-Smith; Angela Gialamas; Sally A. Brinkman

The Lancet Regional Health. Western Pacific (Nov 2020)

Inequalities in child development at school entry: A repeated cross-sectional analysis of the Australian Early Development Census 2009–2018

Luke R. Collier,
Tess Gregory,
Yasmin Harman-Smith,
Angela Gialamas,
Sally A. Brinkman

Affiliations

Luke R. Collier: Telethon Kids Institute, The University of Western Australia, Level 7, 31 Flinders St., Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia; School of Public Health, The University of Adelaide, Level 9, Adelaide Health And Medical Science Building, 57 North Terrace, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia
Tess Gregory: Telethon Kids Institute, The University of Western Australia, Level 7, 31 Flinders St., Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia; School of Public Health, The University of Adelaide, Level 9, Adelaide Health And Medical Science Building, 57 North Terrace, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia
Yasmin Harman-Smith: Telethon Kids Institute, The University of Western Australia, Level 7, 31 Flinders St., Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia; School of Public Health, The University of Adelaide, Level 9, Adelaide Health And Medical Science Building, 57 North Terrace, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia
Angela Gialamas: School of Public Health, The University of Adelaide, Level 9, Adelaide Health And Medical Science Building, 57 North Terrace, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia
Sally A. Brinkman: Telethon Kids Institute, The University of Western Australia, Level 7, 31 Flinders St., Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia; School of Public Health, The University of Adelaide, Level 9, Adelaide Health And Medical Science Building, 57 North Terrace, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia; Corresponding author at: Sally Brinkman, Telethon Kids Institute, The University of Western Australia, Level 7, 31 Flinders St., Adelaide, South Australia 5000, Australia.

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 4
p. 100057

Abstract

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Background: Australia is the only developed country to consistently undertake a developmental census of its children nationwide. The repeated collection of the Australian Early Development Census (AEDC) has provided an unprecedented opportunity to examine the prevalence of developmental vulnerability across Australia's states and territories, the socio-economic distribution of developmental vulnerability across jurisdictions, and how these distributions might have changed over time. Methods: This study employed multivariable logistic regressions to estimate the probability of developmental vulnerability within each jurisdiction and AEDC collection year (2009 to 2018), adjusting for jurisdictional differences in socio-demographic characteristics. To explore socio-economic inequalities in child development, adjusted slope index of inequality (SII) models were utilised. Findings: The results of this study found reductions in the adjusted prevalence of developmental vulnerability over time in Western Australia (26% to 20%) and Queensland (30% to 25%), with an increase observed in the Australian Capital Territory (27% to 30%). Analysis also indicated an increase in socio-economic inequalities over time in the Northern Territory (+12%), the Australian Capital Territory (+6%) and Tasmania (+4%). Sensitivity analysis found these effects to be robust with an alternative measure of socio-economic position. Interpretation: There is considerable variation in the prevalence and socio-economic inequalities in developmental vulnerability across Australia's jurisdictions. Future research should explore the policy drivers in early childhood education and health contributing to the findings of this study, with a particular focus on jurisdictions where there have been notable changes in developmental vulnerability and socio-economic inequality over time. Funding: Analyses were funded under research contract by the Department of Education, Skills and Employment. Prof Brinkman is supported by a National Health and Medical Research Council fellowship, APP1160185.

Published in The Lancet Regional Health. Western Pacific

ISSN: 2666-6065 (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: United Kingdom
LCC subjects: Medicine: Public aspects of medicine
Website: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanwpc/home

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