Profiles of children’s health in the UK offer a detailed snapshot of how young people are faring across physical, emotional, and social wellbeing indicators. These profiles help policymakers, educators, healthcare providers, and families understand where support is needed—and where progress is being made.
What Are Child Health Profiles?
- Published annually by the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID)
- Provide local authority-level data across England
- Include indicators on:
- Hospital admissions for asthma, self-harm, and substance misuse
- Mental health conditions and emotional wellbeing
- Immunisation rates
- Teenage pregnancy
- Educational outcomes (e.g. attainment scores at age 16)
- Accident and Emergency attendances for ages 0–4
- Road injuries and deaths among children
- Social, emotional, and mental health needs in school pupils
Key Trends & Insights
- Infant and child mortality rates have slightly increased in recent years, with 3.9 infant deaths per 1,000 live births and 10 child deaths per 100,000 population
- Unexplained infant deaths remain a concern, with sudden infant death syndrome accounting for over half of these cases
- Children from families with poor mental health or strained relationships are more likely to experience mental health disorders
- Health inequalities persist, with children in deprived areas facing worse outcomes across nearly every indicator
Why These Profiles Matter
- Help identify regional disparities and target interventions
- Support early intervention strategies to prevent long-term health issues
- Inform school and community programmes like Stretch-n-Grow that promote physical activity, emotional wellness, and healthy habits
You can explore the full interactive data set on OHID’s Fingertips tool or dive into broader insights via the State of Child Health report by RCPCH.
‘Not only will the profiles help set local healthcare priorities, but commissioners can reach out to high-performing local authorities and share best practice.
More Information
For more information, contact us Stretch-n-Grow is a Worldwide Programme
