Including the voices of children and young people in health policy development: An Irish perspective

Abstract

Objective: This paper presents findings of a qualitative study which explored children and young people’s understanding of health and the factors that contribute, or act as barriers, to healthy lifestyles. Views were elicited from consultations with children and young people as part of the process for the development of a National Obesity Policy in Ireland. Design: Child participatory methodology was used which prioritised the voice of the child in policy making. Methods: Two consultations were held – one with 48 children between the ages of 8 and 12 and the other with 34 young people aged 13–17 years. The consultations utilised qualitative participatory methodology which prioritised the voices of children and young people in policy making. A diverse range of methodological tools (e.g. ‘lifelines’, ‘body maps’, world café workshops) were used to collect data and optimise levels of participant engagement. Qualitative visual and written data produced during the consultations was then subjected to thematic analysis. Results: Children and young people’s constructions of health and healthy lifestyles are multifaceted. Participants in the consultation appeared well informed as to the general factors which contribute to healthy and unhealthy lifestyles. There were notable differences of emphasis related to age, with the older age group engaging more with issues relating to mental health and peer relationships, while younger children focused more on balanced diet and exercise. Conclusion: Findings from this consultation suggest that children’s constructions of health, and their understandings of the factors that impact health, are complex and often go beyond medical constructions of the meaning of health. The consultation informed the development of the new National Obesity Policy in a number of ways, including specific actions in relation to the development of a whole school healthy lifestyles programme, developing a health and well-being model for early childhood services, and providing clinical services specifically for children.

Socio-Economic Factors, the Food Environment and Lunchtime Food Purchasing by Young People at Secondary School

“…Whilst parents and teachers could be involved in such interventions their input and whether they are considered positive role models by young people cannot be guaranteed [11]; innovative strategies to effectively work with teenagers are therefore called for. Other studies show the multiple challenges involved in achieving this but also point the way for approaches to be co-designed by and with young people and the avoidance of “top down” assumptions about what pupils “should” engage with [38,39]. For example, many young people have a limited experience of trying some (even commonly available) “healthier” foods such as fruits or vegetables therefore adults have a responsibility to find ways to tempt them to try and experiment with new flavours to encourage a healthier way of eating.…”

Young people’s involvement in migration research – opportunities for (re)shaping research priorities and practices

“…as research participant, advisor, co-researcher). Contemporary examples of young people's research participation can be found across a range of disciplines and areas, including (but not limited to) education (see Can & Göksenin 2017;Forde et al 2018), health (see From 2019;Martin et al 2018), family life (see Shah et al 2021), and social media and peer relationships (see Goodyear, Armour & Wood 2018;Hunter, van Blerk & Shand 2021). The increasing commitment to the 'meaningful' engagement of young people in research has been largely triggered in response to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) (UN 1989).…”

Privileges of Power: Authenticity, Representation and the “Problem” of Children’s Voices in Qualitative Health Research

“…Such approaches are further defended by recourse to their emancipatory and inclusive potential of an otherwise disenfranchised and "vulnerable" group. In relation to health, research with children has taken a focus on their thoughts on health and illness (Brady et al, 2015), health care policy and service provision (Persson et al, 2017), healthy lifestyles and practices (Martin et al, 2018) and health promotion (From, 2017;Mengwasser & Walton, 2013).…”