Frequency and Specificity of Pediatric Health Policy Discussions in Political Campaigns

Benning, Tyler J.; Ashby, Grayson B; Chapp, Christopher B.

doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2020.0932

Cited by 19 publications

(22 citation statements)

References 6 publications

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“…In the Finnish context, we are aware of previous studies that have assessed the extent to which children are represented in municipal council discussions [21], newspapers and in election studies [22]. Our findings are in line with the US study by Benning et al, showing that children are not central to election discussions [4]. We are unaware of other studies in the Nordic countries or from similar socioeconomic contexts.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 86%

“…The role of children and their wellbeing is, basically, undocumented in terms of election themes. In the US context, a study by Benning et al found that children’s health-related issues were rarely mentioned in the US Congressional candidate’s campaign websites [4]. In the Finnish context, we are unaware of any study examining the role of children in election discussions.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Election promises on children’s wellbeing and health 2015 to 2021 – a study of Finnish voting advice applications database

Hiilamo¹,

Ristikari²,

Helve

et al. 2022

Scand J Public Health

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Background: According to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, children’s views should be heard in policymaking. But it remains unclear to what extent children’s wellbeing is considered in election promises Methods: We investigated the extent to which Finnish political candidates consider children and their wellbeing in their election promises. We used YLE, the national broadcaster’s voting advice application database, and analysed some 35,000 politicians’ election promises made in the 2015 and 2019 parliamentary and the 2017 and 2021 municipal elections. We calculated the proportion of candidates who mentioned children and examined the content of the election promises in which children were mentioned. Logistic regression models were used to examine the role of the background of the characteristics of candidates. Results: In the 2015 and 2019 elections, some 12% and 19% of candidates, respectively, mentioned children in their election promises. The figures for the 2017 and 2021 municipal elections were higher at 19% and 24%, respectively. In the 2021 election, the candidates considering children in their election promises were younger and had higher education qualifications. Inspection of a random set of 350 promises indicated that common issues mentioned in respect of children were education and hobby activities. Concrete proposals to improve the wellbeing of children were rarely put forward. Conclusions: Political candidates are increasingly considering children in their election promises but concrete proposals to improve the wellbeing and health of children are rare. Effective policy solutions to improve the health of children should be discussed in election debates.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 86%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Election promises on children’s wellbeing and health 2015 to 2021 – a study of Finnish voting advice applications database

Hiilamo¹,

Ristikari²,

Helve

et al. 2022

Scand J Public Health

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…As officeholders also have a great influence in directing and implementing the MH promotion-related activities of the municipality, it should be ensured that they develop effective and long-term policies that address children’s health needs. However, previous studies have found that children and families with children are poorly reflected in political discourse and goal setting ( Benning et al , 2020 ; Hiilamo et al , 2021 ; Pereira et al , 2022 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Promotive and risk factors for children’s mental health—Finnish municipal policymakers’ and leading officeholders’ views

Savolainen

Sormunen

Turunen

2023

Health Promotion International

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Findings on children’s mental health promotion at the policy level are scarce, and the perceptions of the municipal administration on factors affecting children’s mental health have not been reported. This study describes the perspectives of policymakers and leading officeholders on promotive and risk factors for children’s mental health in a socioecological context. The perspectives of Finnish policymakers (n = 15) and officeholders (n = 10) in municipalities were examined using semi-structured interviews. The data were analyzed using inductive content analysis and were categorized according to the five levels of a socioecological model of health promotion: public policy, community, organizational, interpersonal and individual levels. The public policy level emerged strongly in the findings, specifically strategic planning and implementation challenges related to the promotion of children’s mental health in the municipality and state administration. At the community level, environmental factors promoting children’s mental health as well as risk factors were described. The organizational level consisted of support, requirements and development needs in children’s services. The importance of family and close networks at the interpersonal level, as well as the individual basis of mental health, were also evident. The integration and better collaboration of child and family services, the use of child rights impact assessment in political decision-making, and financial support from the state could contribute to improving strategic planning to support children’s mental health at the municipal level.

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“…Very few Democratic Congressional campaign websites discuss pediatric health policies; even fewer Republican ones do. 1 It is troubling that candidates would neglect issues directly affecting the current and future health and well-being of more than 73 million Americans-more than one-fifth of the US population. 2,3 Worse, child health can be indirectly impacted by adult-focused policies, but this issue is often considered after the fact.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Because children do not vote, are disproportionately poor and disenfranchised, and usually incur lower health care costs than older adults, their health issues are given less attention in public policy debates. Very few Democratic Congressional campaign websites discuss pediatric health policies; even fewer Republican ones do …”

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confidence: 99%

Children’s Health Is Too Often Ignored in Elections—Here Is Evidence to Help Change That

Galbraith

Carroll

2020

JAMA Pediatr

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When elections focus on health policy, children are too often ignored. This is as true during the present election cycle as any other. Because children do not vote, are disproportionately poor and disenfranchised, and usually inc ur lower health care costs than older adults, their health issues are given less attention in public policy debates. Very few Democratic Congressional campaign websites discuss pediatric health policies; even fewer Republican ones do. 1 It is troubling that candidates would neglect issues directly affecting the current and future health and well-being of more than 73 million Americans-more than one-fifth of the US population. 2,3 Worse, child health can be indirectly impacted by adult-focused policies, but this issue is often considered after the fact. While we may not be able to directly change how candidates focus on these issues, we can offer them the evidence they need to do so.To call attention to child health as an important policy issue and provide data to inform the decision-making of voters and policy makers, JAMA Pediatrics issued a Call for Papers on Election-Year Policies and Children's Health last year. The resulting submissions, highlighted herein, focus on a range of significant issues. Some articles point out underrecognized or unaddressed topics in child health and help characterize the problem and the populations affected, providing visibility and evidence to encourage policy makers to take action. Other studies evaluate the impact of existing policies to examine which may be beneficial and which may not, providing evidence to strengthen the former and reconsider the latter.Children spend much of their time in school, and school policies impact child health. School reopening during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic has generated considerable debate. Kroshus et al 4 highlighted the factors affecting whether parents intend to keep their children home from school during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. Miller et al 5 found that a school-based, coach-led gender violence prevention program for middle school athletes led to increases in positive bystander behaviors and reductions in reported relationship abuse downstream. A study by Nance et al 6 reminds us that, even when mass shootings occur beyond school walls, children are involved 29% of the time and more than 90% of shootings occur within a mile of a school or other place where children congregate.

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Frequency and Specificity of Pediatric Health Policy Discussions in Political Campaigns

Cited by 19 publications

References 6 publications

Election promises on children’s wellbeing and health 2015 to 2021 – a study of Finnish voting advice applications database

Election promises on children’s wellbeing and health 2015 to 2021 – a study of Finnish voting advice applications database

Promotive and risk factors for children’s mental health—Finnish municipal policymakers’ and leading officeholders’ views

Children’s Health Is Too Often Ignored in Elections—Here Is Evidence to Help Change That

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