Progress of the Northern Territory Emergency Response Child Health Check initiative: preliminary results from the Child Health Check and follow-up data collections

This is the second progress report to provide findings on health conditions identified, and referrals made, during Child Health Checks (CHCs) that were undertaken as part of the Northern Territory Emergency Response (NTER) Child Health Check Initiative (CHCI). In addition, for the first time, results from three follow-up CHCI data collections - Chart review, Audiology and Dental collection – are provided. As of 17 October 2008, an estimated total of 12,263 valid Child Health Checks (CHC) have been performed. Among children who received a health check, 75% lived in a household with a smoker, 40% had untreated caries and 30% had ear disease. More than 1,600 audiology follow-up services and 1,700 dental follow-up services were provided to children. In addition, 4,387 (46%) children who participated in a health check had a chart review (used to monitor whether children received follow-up care for the referrals received at their child health check).