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State findings from the School Entrant Health Questionnaire2010 - 2012

Published by the Performance and Evaluation DivisionDepartment of Education andEarly Childhood DevelopmentMelbourneJuly 2014

©State of Victoria (Department of Educationand Early Childhood Development) 2014

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Authorised by the Department of Educationand Early Childhood Development,2 Treasury Place, East Melbourne, Victoria, 3002.

This document is available on the internet athttp://www.education.vic.gov.au/about/research/pages/reportdatahealth.aspx

http://www.education.vic.gov.au/about/research/pages/reportdatahealth.aspx

http://www.education.vic.gov.au/about/research/pages/reportdatahealth.aspx

Contents1. Introduction

Purpose of this report 3

Distribution of the SEHQ 3

2. Demographic profile of children at school entry

Child and family characteristics 5

Disadvantage 5

3. General Health

Overall health 7

Weight 7

Asthma 8

Allergy 9

Anaphylaxis 10

4. Speech and language

Difficulties with speech and language 11

Types of speech and language difficulties 11

5. Service use

Involvement with health services 13

Maternal child health 14

Kindergarten 14

Vision services 15

Oral health services 16

6. General development

Children at risk of developmental and/or behavioural problems 18

Children at high risk 18

Children at moderate risk 19

7. Behavioural and emotional wellbeing

ContentsBehavioural and emotional wellbeing 20

Children at high risk 20

Children at moderate risk 21

Proportion of children at risk across SDQ sub-scales 21

8. Family issues and stressors

Stress levels 22

Stressors 22

1. IntroductionThe School Entrant Health Questionnaire (SEHQ) is a parent1 report instrument that records parent’s concerns and observations about their child’s health and wellbeing during their first year at primary school. The questionnaire was developed and piloted in 1996–97 and has been completed by parents and guardians of preparatory (prep) grade children in Victorian primary schools since mid-1997. It is distributed through the Victorian Primary School Nursing Program (PSNP)2.

The intention of the questionnaire is to gather information on parental concerns to identify potential health and wellbeing issues that may impact on a child’s capacity to learn. The information collected in the SEHQ is a starting point for school nurses to carry out further assessment of the child and family and determine appropriate intervention and/or referral as required. Analysis of the SEHQ data is also used to inform planning and service delivery.3

Purpose of this reportThe primary purpose of this report is to examine data from the 2012 SEHQ as well as providing longitudinal analysis relating to the period of 2010 to 2012, highlighting emerging trends.

This report complements the Outcomes for Victorian children at school entry: State and local findings from the School Entrant Health Questionnaire (Department of Education and Early Childhood Development, 2011). Reference to this report is made throughout.

Distribution of the SEHQIn 2012 there were 60,472 responses to the School Entry Health Questionnaire (SEHQ) in 2012. Figure 1 (overleaf) shows a consistent increase in the number of school entrants and school entrants with a completed SEHQ since 2009.

1 In all cases ‘parent’ refers to the person completing the questionnaire on behalf of the child; this may be a guardian, carer, grandparent, etc.2 Not all schools participate in the PSNP; only children in participating schools will have a SEHQ completed by a parent. 3 A detailed overview of the questionnaire and components is provided in Outcomes for Victorian children at school entry (2011): http://www.education.vic.gov.au/Documents/about/research/aedi-sehq-report.pdf

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http://www.education.vic.gov.au/Documents/about/research/aedi-sehq-report.pdf

Figure 1: Number of SEHQ distribution and prep enrolments, Victoria, 2009-2012

2009 2010 2011 201240,000

45,000

50,000

55,000

60,000

65,000

70,000

75,000

Number of children enrolled in PrepNumber of SEHQ completed

Table 1 shows the distribution and completion of the SEHQ across Victoria highlighting that just under 83 per cent of the school entrant population in Victoria had a SEHQ completed in 20124.

Table 1: Distribution and completion of SEHQ across Victoria, 2009-2012

2009 2010 2011 2012

Number of children enrolled in Prep 66,229 66,444 69,453 73,100

Number of children surveyed 54,778 56,912 58,873 60,472

Proportion of school entrants surveyed – All schools 82.7% 85.7% 84.8% 82.7%

4 Prep enrolments 2010-2012 provided by Performance and Evaluation Division, Department of Education and Early Childhood Development

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2. Demographic profile of children at school entry

Child and family characteristicsThe SEHQ gathers demographic information about children entering school. Table 2 displays demographic information, as reported by parents.

Table 2: Demographic profile of children entering school, Victoria, 2010-2012

Profile 2010 2011 2012Per cent Per cent Per cent Number

5 years of age (at April 30 of survey year) 75.6 77.5 77.7 46,969

6 Years (at April 30 of survey year) 19.4 17.6 16.6 10,060

Boys 47.7 47.9 49.6 30,011

Girls 49.9 49.6 47.4 28,684

Born outside Australia 8.0 8.0 8.0 4836

Lives in rural or regional area 28.9 28.3 28.5 17,212

Lives in a metropolitan area 71.1 71.7 71.5 43,260

One-parent families 12.5 12.6 12.4 7,526

With a language other than English 12.1 12.3 12.6 7,639

Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander origins 1.5 1.5 1.5 904Lives in area of most IRSED disadvantage 19.5 18.8 19.0 11,748

Lives in area of least IRSED disadvantage 23.9 23.7 23.6 15,289

Note: categories will not sum to ‘all children’ due to missing or invalid data

DisadvantageApproximately 20 per cent of children recorded in the 2012 SEHQ count live in each of the ABS Socioeconomic Index for Areas (SEIFA) Index of Relative Socio-economic Disadvantage (IRSED) quintiles, with 19.0 per cent living in areas of most disadvantage (quintile 1) and 23.6 per cent living in areas of least disadvantage (quintile 5).

There is a significant difference in proportions of children living in rural and metropolitan areas across the quintiles, with children in rural/regional areas more likely to live in an area of disadvantage than children living in metropolitan areas. This trend is consistent with previous years. Children with a language background other than English and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children are also more likely to live in areas designated as most disadvantaged. There is little difference between the distribution of boys and girls across the quintiles.

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Table 3: Distribution of children across SEIFA IRSED quintiles, by population groups, Victoria, 2012

DEECD Region

IRSED quintile 1 IRSED quintile 2 IRSED quintile 3 IRSED quintile 4 IRSED quintile 5

Number Per cent Number Per cent Number Per cent Number Per cent Number Per cent

All children 11,516 19.0 10,091 16.7 13,351 22.1 11,193 18.5 14,273 23.6

Language background other than English

2,665 34.9 1,304 17.1 1,573 20.6 918 12.0 1,178 15.4

Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander

387 42.8 201 22.2 168 18.6 80 8.8 68 7.5

One-parent family 2,222 29.5 1,535 20.4 1,705 22.7 1,128 15.0 932 12.4

Boys 5,748 19.2 5,080 16.9 6,648 22.2 5,590 18.6 6,928 23.1

Girls 5,520 19.2 4,747 16.5 6,357 22.2 5,292 18.5 6,738 23.5

Rural/Regional areas 5,287 30.7 4,666 27.1 3,295 19.1 2,639 15.3 1,281 7.4

Metropolitan areas 6,299 14.4 5,425 12.5 10,057 23.2 8,553 19.8 12,992 30.0


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3. General Health

Overall healthAlmost 90 per cent of parents from 2010 to 2012 consistently reported that their child’s health was either excellent or very good. Table 4 shows that amongst at risk population groups5, parents were less likely to report the health of their child as excellent or very good, particularly those with a language background other than English. There was little difference between the reported health of boy and girls and children from rural/regional and metropolitan areas.

Table 4: Parental perception of child's health, by population groups, Victoria, 2010-2012

Population group

Excellent/Very Good Good Fair/poor

2010

2011 2012 201

02011 2012 201

02011 2012

Per cent

Per cent

Per cent

Number

Per cent

Per cent

Per cent

Number

Per cent

Per cent

Per cent

Number

All children 90.7 89.4 89.3 54,006 6.4 7.0 6.7 4,043 0.8 0.8 0.9 540

Language background other than English

81.4 81.1 81.0 6,191 16.0 16.6 16.3 1,248 2.0 1.8 2.1 164

Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander 87.8 84.8 84.7 766 9.6 11.1 11.4 103 2.0 1.7 1.7 15

Areas of most disadvantage (IRSED 1)

87.2 86.1 86.4 9,951 9.3 10.0 9.4 1,078 1.4 1.2 1.3 155

Areas of least disadvantage (IRSED 5)

92.3 90.6 90.0 12,841 4.7 5.4 5.1 732 0.6 0.5 0.6 79

One-parent family 89.2 88.6 88.7 6,674 9.0 9.3 9.4 710 1.3 1.4 1.3 101

Boys 91.4 90.5 90.6 27,197 7.2 7.8 7.5 2,262 0.9 0.9 1.1 316

Girls 92.9 92.1 92.5 26,520 5.8 6.4 6.1 1,747 0.7 0.7 0.8 221

Rural/Regional areas 91.8 90.9 91.0 15,65

8 5.2 5.7 5.6 940 0.7 0.7 0.9 144

Metropolitan areas 90.3 88.8 88.6 38,348 6.9 7.5 7.2 3,103 0.8 0.9 0.9 395


WeightTable 5 shows parent perception of their child’s weight. In 2012, 89.3 per cent of parents reported their child as having a healthy weight, with less than two per cent of parents reporting their child to be overweight. Previous research, however, has indicated that the prevalence of overweight children in the population is likely to be around 15.1 per cent, or one in seven children.6

5 Children are acknowledged as being in a population at risk if they one or more of the following characteristics: a language background other than English; are of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander origin; live in a one-parent family; and/or live in an area of most socio-economic disadvantage. For more information refer to Outcomes for Victorian children at school entry (2011) section 3.4 http://www.education.vic.gov.au/Documents/about/research/aedi-sehq-report.pdf6 See section 5.2, Outcomes for Victorian children at school entry (2011)

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Consistent with data from 2010 -2012, children with a language background other than English were least likely to be reported as a healthy weight were children, with 12 per cent of these children reported to be underweight. Children most likely to be reported as overweight were Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, consistent with findings from previous years. In 2012 boys and children from metropolitan areas were more likely to be reported as underweight, with little difference in the proportion reported to be overweight between these population groups.

Table 5: Parental perception of child's weight, Victoria, 2010-2012

Population Group

Underweight Overweight

2010 2011 2012 2010 2011 2012Per cent

Per cent

Per cent

Number

Per cent

Per cent

Per cent

Number

All children 5.2 5.3 5.4 3,254 2.1 1.9 1.8 1,100Language background other than English 12.2 11.7 11.8 900 2.5 2.2 2.2 170

Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander 3.7 6.2 4.9 44 2.5 3.4 2.5 23

Areas of most disadvantage (IRSED 1) 6.8 6.6 6.4 734 2.5 2.5 2.4 281

Areas of least disadvantage (IRSED 5) 4.2 4.6 5.0 712 1.7 1.3 1.3 188

Lives with one parent 5.8 6.4 6.1 459 2.9 3.0 2.9 215

Boys 6.2 6.2 6.5 1,946 1.8 1.7 1.5 459

Girls 4.3 4.6 4.5 1,289 2.4 2.1 2.2 634

Rural/Regional areas 3.8 3.7 3.8 659 1.8 1.8 1.8 303

Metropolitan areas 5.7 6.0 6.0 2,595 2.2 1.9 1.8 797


AsthmaIn 2012 one in seven Victorian children on school entry had been diagnosed with asthma. This figure has remained relatively consistent from 2010 until 2012. Of children reported to have asthma, 49 per cent were reported to have an Asthma Action Plan at school. Table 6 shows the percentage of children with asthma by population group.

Since 2010, population groups at risk, with the exception of children from a language background other than English, have been more likely to be reported as having asthma, with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children the most likely population; approximately one-in-five children diagnosed. Children from rural/regional areas were more likely to be reported as having asthma compared with children in metropolitan areas. Boys were also more likely than girls to have been reported as having an asthma diagnosis.


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Table 6: Children diagnosed with asthma, Victoria, 2011

Population Group2010 2011 2012Per cent Per cent Per cent Number

All children 14.4 15.2 14.9 9,019

Language background other than English 11.2 10.9 11.6 884

Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander 20.0 21.5 20.9 189

Areas of most disadvantage (IRSED 1) 14.6 15.9 15.5 1,788

Areas of least disadvantage (IRSED 5) 13.1 13.7 13.5 1,923

One-parent family 17.8 19.7 19.1 1,437

Boys 17.6 18.3 18.3 5,496

Girls 11.5 12.6 12.1 3,465


Metropolitan areas 13.9 14.7 14.4 6,251


Allergy

Analysis of SEHQ data (2010-2012) indicates that over 11 per cent of children in Victoria have been told by a doctor that they have an allergy by the time they reach their first year of primary school. Of the children reported to have an allergy, 30 per cent were reported to have an Allergy Action Plan at school. There is little variation in the proportion of children with an allergy across population groups. However there was a slightly higher proportions of boys, children from metropolitan regions and children living in areas of least disadvantage (compared to areas of most disadvantage) reported to have an allergy in 2012.

Table 7: Children with known allergy, Victoria, 2010-2012

Population Group2010 2011 2012Per cent Per cent Per cent Number

All children 11.2 11.2 11.2 6,744Language background other than English 10.3 10.3 10.6 811

Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander 9.0 10.2 10.4 94Areas of most disadvantage (IRSED 1) 9.6 10.1 10.0 1,149Areas of least disadvantage (IRSED 5) 11.9 12.1 11.7 1,669One-parent family 11.7 11.5 11.3 851Boys 12.4 12.6 12.6 3,767Girls 10.4 10.1 10.2 2,936Rural/Regional areas 10.1 9.5 10.0 1,714Metropolitan areas 11.7 11.8 11.6 5,030


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Anaphylaxis

Since 2010, parents have been asked if their child has an allergic reaction that may result in anaphylaxis. In 2012, 2.4 per cent of children were reported to have a known allergy that may result in anaphylaxis. Of these children 69 per cent were reported to have an Anaphylaxis Action Plan at school.

Whilst there is minimal difference between population groups, boys and children from areas of least disadvantage (IRSED quintile 5) were more likely to have a known allergy that may result in anaphylaxis.

Table 8: Children with known allergy that may result in anaphylaxis, Victoria, 2010-2012

Population Group2010 2011 2012

Per cent Per cent Per cent Number

All children 2.4 2.3 2.4 1,423



Areas of most disadvantage (IRSED 1) 1.8 1.7 1.7 196

Areas of least disadvantage (IRSED 5) 2.9 3.1 3.2 452

One-parent family 1.7 1.8 1.6 120

Boys 2.7 2.8 2.9 858

Girls 2.1 1.9 1.9 555

Rural/Regional areas 1.8 2.0 2.0 341



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4. Speech and language

Difficulties with speech and languageSince 2010, approximately 14 per cent of parents (or one in seven) have reported that their child has difficulty with speech and language. Of these children, around one in four (27 per cent) reported that they were currently seeing a speech pathologist7.

Population groups at risk, with the exception of children from a language background other than English, reported higher rates of difficulty with speech and language, with one in four Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander children reported to have difficulties. The 2012 SEHQ data indicates that almost one in five boys compared with one in ten girls have a difficulty with speech and language as reported by their parents. Children living in rural/regional areas were also more likely to be reported as having a difficulty with their speech and language compared with metropolitan regions.

Table 9: Children reported to have difficulties with speech and language, by population groups, Victoria 2010-2012

Population group 2010 2011 2012Per cent Per cent Per cent Number

All children 14.1 14.1 13.8 8,355






Boys 18.7 18.9 18.5 5,556

Girls 9.7 9.7 9.6 2,751




Types of speech and language difficultiesParents were asked to indicate different types of speech and language difficulties from a list of nine. Table 10 shows parents with one or more concerns about their child’s speech and language, including parents who didn’t indicate that they had a difficulty with their speech and language in the previous question. The most common difficulties with speech language reported by parents were related to expressive language skills.

7 Speech and language service use is asked twice in the SEHQ; this figure does not include the proportion of children reported to have seen a speech pathologist in the past twelve months, just those children whose parents reported ‘yes’ that their child is currently seeing a speech pathologist.

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Table 10: Types of speech and language concerns reported by parents 2010-2012

Type of speech and language difficulty 2010 2011 2012Per cent Per cent Per cent Number

Speech not clear to others 7.7 7.7 7.9 4,785

Difficulty putting words together 4.8 4.7 4.8 2,879

Difficulty finding words 4.8 4.9 4.9 2,935

Speech not clear to the family 3.3 3.2 3.4 2,047

Stutters or stammers 2.3 2.4 2.6 1,572

Reluctant to speak 1.8 1.8 1.7 1,037

Voice sounds unusual 1.5 1.4 1.5 897Doesn't understand others when they speak 1.4 1.3 1.3 770

Doesn't understand you when you speak 1.1 1.0 1.0 615

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5. Service use

Involvement with health servicesThe SEHQ asks parents about their child’s involvement with health services over the previous twelve months. Of the services listed, children are most likely to have visited a General Practitioner, with 80 per cent of parents reporting that their child had attended a General Practitioner in the past twelve months, as shown in Table 11.

Table 11: Children reported to have attended a health services, Victoria, 2010-2012

Service type 2010 2011 2012Per cent Per cent Per cent Number

General Practitioner (GP) 79.9 80.6 79.8 48,234

Hospital Emergency Department (ED) staff 15.1 15.6 15.3 9,272

Paediatrician 10.7 10.9 10.6 6,400

Maternal & Child Health Nurse 5.6 5.4 5.4 3,295

Optometrist/Eye Doctor 15.9 16.5 17.1 10,330

Audiologist/Hearing Specialist 10.4 10.5 10.5 6,322

Speech Pathologist/Speech Therapist 11.8 11.7 11.9 7,168Early Childhood Intervention Services (ECIS) Therapist or Practitioner 5.1 5.5 5.7 3,437

Dentist (including Orthodontist, Periodontist etc.) 46.9 48.0 48.5 29,308

Complementary Practitioner 4.1 4.2 4.0 2,441

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Maternal child healthThe proportion of parents reporting that their child attended a Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Service for a 3.5 year old check in 2012 was 73 per cent.

Table 12 shows that some population groups were less likely to attend an MCH service, with children from a language background other than English having the lowest reported MCH attendance rate. Children living in areas of least disadvantage reported higher rates than children in areas of most disadvantage. There was no difference in attendance rates for boys and girls, but a slight increase in MCH participation for children from a rural area compared with children from metropolitan areas.

Table 12: Children reported to have attended a Maternal and Child Health Centre for their 3.5 year-oldcheck, by population groups, Victoria, 2010-2012


All children 71.3 71.8 73.4 44,367

Language background other than English 55.3 58.7 60.0 4,582





Boys 72.6 73.5 75.4 22,616

Girls 72.3 73.1 75.0 21,519




KindergartenThe SEHQ asked parents if in the twelve months prior to starting school, their child attended a preschool or kindergarten program led by a qualified (early childhood) teacher. In 2012 92 per cent of parents indicated that their child attended a preschool program. This figure differs from the official kindergarten participation rate 94.6 per cent in 2011 based on funded kindergarten enrolments as a percentage of eligible population8.

Table 13 shows that parents of children in population groups at risk were less likely to report that their child attended a preschool or kindergarten program, with the lowest proportion among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children. Children in least 8 This difference may be due to parent interpretation of the question; for example some parents whose children attended long day care in the year preceding school may not be aware of the delivery of a preschool program within that setting for their child; also, not all children are represented in the SEHQ.

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disadvantaged areas were more likely to attend kindergarten or preschool, with no difference between girls or boys or children from rural or metropolitan areas.

Table 13: Children reported to have attended preschool or kindergarten program, by population groups, Victoria, 2010-2012


All children 84.1 90.2 91.5 55,357






Boys 85.5 92.2 93.7 28,107

Girls 85.4 92.2 93.9 26,948




Vision servicesIn 2012, one in twelve parents reported that they were concerned about their child’s vision. Table 14 shows that of the population groups at risk, one in seven parents of children from a language background other than English and one in ten children from one-parent families reported a concern about their child’s vision. Of all parents that reported a concern about their child’s vision in 2012, 44 per cent reported that their child had seen an Optometrist/Eye Doctor in the last twelve months.

Table 14: Parents concerned about their child's eyesight, by population group, Victoria, 2010-2012


All children 8.1 8.0 7.8 4,715





One-parent family 9.9 10.3 9.4 711

Boys 8.2 8.2 8.1 2,426

Girls 8.3 8.2 7.9 2,266


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Oral health servicesIn 2012, one in seven parents reported a concern about their child’s oral health; of these children 55 per cent reported that their child had seen a dentist in the past twelve months. Parents of children from population groups at risk were more likely to report a concern about their child’s oral health. More than one in five parents of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander children reported that they were concerned with their child’s oral health. There was little difference between children from rural/regional and metropolitan areas and between boys and girls.

Table 15: Parent's concern about their child's oral health, Victoria, 2010-2012


All children 12.6 14.6 14.4 8,719






Boys 13.0 15.2 15.1 4,517

Girls 12.5 14.6 14.5 4,151




Nearly half of children recorded in the 2012 SEHQ cohort were reported to have seen a dentist in the past twelve months. Table 16 shows the proportion of children who have seen a dentist in the past twelve months by population group.

Children from population groups at risk were less likely to have seen a dentist, the least likely being children from a language background other than English. One in four of these children were reported to have seen a dentist. There was a slightly higher reporting in metropolitan regions compared with rural regions, and little difference between boys and girls.

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Table 16: Proportion of children who have seen a dentist in the past 12 months, Victoria, 2010-2012


All children 46.9 48.0 48.5 29,308






Boys 47.5 48.6 49.4 14,818

Girls 47.9 49.4 50.0 14,336




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6. General development

Children at risk of developmental and/or behavioural problemsThe Parental Evaluation of Developmental Status (PEDS) is a methodology for detecting developmental and behavioural problems in children from birth to eight years of age9. This methodology involves asking parents to complete a ten item questionnaire, which has been incorporated in the SEHQ since 2007.10 The PEDS can be used as a developmental screening test, or an informal means to elicit and respond to parent concerns.

Table 17: Children at risk of developmental and/or behavioural problems, Victoria, 2012

Population group PEDS Pathway A(high risk)

PEDS Pathway B (moderate risk)

2011 2012 2011 2012Per cent Per cent Number Per cent Per cent Number

All children 14.8 13.5 8,163 19.0 25.3 15,310

With a language other than English 18.1 15.5 1,184 19.2 25.6 1,956

Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander origins 24.2 20.1 182 22.0 26.1 236

Areas of most disadvantage (IRSED 1) 17.4 15.2 1,750 20.6 25.5 2,938

Areas of least disadvantage (IRSED 5) 12.6 12.0 1,715 17.3 24.8 3,534

One-parent family 21.3 18.9 1,423 22.1 25.6 1,924

Boys 18.5 17.0 5,101 21.0 27.5 8,265

Girls 11.5 10.5 3,021 17.7 24.2 6,952

Rural/Regional area 14.6 13.2 2,270 19.7 25.3 4,358

Metropolitan 14.8 13.6 5,892 18.7 25.3 10,952


Children at high riskChildren with two or more significant concerns are considered to be at high risk of developmental and/or behavioural problems, or PEDS Pathway A.

Table 17 shows that in 2012 one in seven children were at high risk of developmental and behavioural problems according to the PEDS. Children from at risk population groups were more likely be categorised as PEDS Pathway A, the most significant being Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander children with one-in-four at high risk. Boys were also more likely to be categorised as high risk, with minimal difference between children from rural/regional and metropolitan areas.

9 Further information on PEDS available from http://www.rch.org.au/ccch/resources.cfm?doc_id=10963 10 Unlike classic administration of PEDS, the completion of the SEHQ by parents is unassisted. This should be considered when interpreting these results.

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http://www.rch.org.au/ccch/resources.cfm?doc_id=10963

Children at moderate riskChildren with one significant concern are considered to be at moderate risk of developmental and/or behavioural problems, or PEDS Pathway B. In 2012, one in four children were categorised as PEDS Pathway B, with minimal difference between population groups. There was, however, a slight difference in the proportion of boys compared with girls and the proportion of children from an area of most disadvantage compared with children from areas of least disadvantage at a moderate risk of developmental and/or behavioural problems.

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7. Behavioural and emotional wellbeing

Behavioural and emotional wellbeingThe Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) is a brief behavioural screening questionnaire for 4-17 year olds developed in the United Kingdom.11 The SDQ has been amended for use in Australia and exists in several versions that can be completed by children, adolescents, parents and teachers. All versions of the SDQ include questions on 25 psychological attributes which are divided between five scales: emotional symptoms; conduct problems; hyperactivity; peer problems; and prosocial.

Table 18 shows the proportion of children at high and moderate risk of clinically significant problems related to behaviour as determined by their total difficulties score.

Table 18: Children at risk of significant clinical problems related to behaviour and emotional wellbeing, Victoria, 2010-2012

Population group High risk Moderate Risk2010 2011 2012 201

0201

1 2012

Per cent

Per cent

Per cent

Number

Per cen

t

Per cen

t

Per cent

Number

All children 4.3 4.1 4.3 2,612 4.4 4.4 4.4 2,678

With a language other than English 4.7 4.2 4.1 313 6.0 6.2 5.0 307

Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander origins

11.0

10.6

12.7 115 8.4 8.1 10.

1 91

Areas of most disadvantage (IRSED 1) 6.0 5.9 6.1 698 5.9 6.3 6.0 685

Areas of least disadvantage (IRSED 5) 2.6 2.3 2.6 378 3.1 2.8 3.0 430

Boys 5.7 5.3 5.8 1,733 5.2 5.3 5.5 1,659

Girls 3.1 2.9 3.0 864 3.7 3.7 3.5 1,005

Rural/Regional area 5.4 5.2 5.5 940 4.8 4.8 5.1 884

Metropolitan 3.9 3.6 3.9 1,672 4.3 4.3 4.1 1,794


Children at high riskChildren identified with an abnormal SDQ are considered at a high risk of clinically significant problems related to behaviour. The 2012 SEHQ count indicates that one in 25 children were identified at high risk, with children from at risk populations more likely to be at high risk with the exception of children from a language background other than English. Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander children are represented at more than twice the rate of the general population, with one in ten at high risk. Children in areas of least disadvantage were more likely to be at high risk compared to children from areas of least disadvantage. Boys and children from rural/regional areas were also more likely to be at high risk as determined by their total difficulties score.

11 Goodman, R (1997) The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire: A Research Note. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 38, 581-586

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Children at moderate riskChildren identified with a borderline SDQ are considered at moderate risk of clinically significant problems related to behaviour. The 2012 SEHQ count indicates that children from population groups at risk are more likely to be categorised at moderate risk of clinically significant problems related to behaviour, with children from areas of most disadvantage represented at twice the rate. Boys are more likely to be at moderate risk of behavioural problems than girls, with little difference between children from rural/regional and metropolitan areas.

Proportion of children at risk across SDQ sub-scalesTable 19 shows the proportion of children scored at either high or moderate risk of clinically significant problems across each of the 5 sub scales of the SDQ. The 2012, SEHQ data indicates that the largest proportion of children were at high or moderate risk on the peer or conduct problem scales.

Table 19: Proportion of children at high/moderate risk of clinically significant problems across SDQ sub scales, Victoria, 2010-2012

Population group High/Moderate Risk

2010 2011 2012Per cent Per cent Per cent Number

Conduct problems 15.1 14.7 14.6 8,842

Emotional symptoms 10.4 10.4 10.5 6,346

Hyperactivity 11.2 11.1 11.5 6,929

Peer problems 16.9 16.5 16.4 9,935

Prosocial problems 9.7 9.3 8.9 5,409

General Health 21

8. Family issues and stressorsThe SEHQ asks parents to rate their family’s level of stress over the month prior to completing the questionnaire using a five point Likert scale, from ‘almost more than I can bear’ to ‘little or no stress/pressure’. Reporting of stress by parents has increased slightly across population groups from 2010 to 2012.This can be seen in Table 20, which outlines the proportion of families reporting highest stress, high stress and high/highest stress combined.

In 2012, one in nine parents reported high or highest stress in their family, with one-parent families and families with Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander children more likely to report high or highest stress; one in five and one in six respectively.

Families with children from a language background other than English were less likely to report high stress, with one in sixteen parents reporting high or highest stress. There is little difference between other population groups.

Stress levelsTable 20: Families reporting high stress by population groups, Victoria, 2010-2012

Population group Highest stress High stress High/highest stress combined

2010 2011 2012 2010 2011 2012 2010 2011 2012

Per cent

Per cent

Per cent

Per cent

Per cent

Per cent

Per cent

Per cent

Per cent Number

All children 1.7 1.6 1.5 8.4 9.3 9.9 10.2 10.8 11.4 6,912

Language background other than English 2.1 1.6 1.3 4.7 5.1 5.8 6.8 6.7 7.1 541

Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander 2.6 3.4 3.3 10.4 13.0 13.8 13.0 16.4 17.1 155

Areas of most disadvantage (IRSED 1) 2.3 2.0 1.9 7.7 8.8 9.0 9.9 10.8 11.0 1,262

Areas of least disadvantage (IRSED 5) 1.2 1.1 1.1 8.2 9.3 9.7 9.4 10.3 10.9 1,549

One-parent family 4.3 4.0 4.3 13.9 14.8 15.6 18.2 18.8 19.9 1,329

Boys 1.9 1.6 1.6 8.5 9.5 10.3 10.4 11.1 11.9 3,567

Girls 1.7 1.6 1.6 8.7 9.4 10.0 10.3 10.9 11.5 3,308

Rural/Regional areas 2.0 1.8 1.7 9.6 10.4 10.9 11.6 12.2 12.6 2,174

Metropolitan areas 1.7 1.5 1.4 8.0 8.8 9.5 9.6 10.3 11.0 4,738


StressorsThe SEHQ asks parents if their child has been affected by the following events and the degree to which they have been affected. These are categorised as ‘not at all’, ‘a lot’, ‘a little’ or ‘not applicable’.

Table 21 shows the proportion of children reported to have been affected by following events, either ‘a little’ or ‘a lot’, by population group.

General Health 22

Across all population groups at risk, with the exception of children from a language background other than English, the proportion of children affected by a stressful event is greater than the general population.

Of all events listed, children were most likely to have been affected by moving to a new house or by the death of a friend or relative. There is little difference between children from rural/regional areas compared with metropolitan areas, boys and girls.

Table 21: Proportion of children affected by stressful events during twelve months prior to SEHQ completion, Victoria, 2012

Population group

Dea

th o

f frie

nd/

rela

tive

Div

orce

/se

para

tion

Mov

e to

new

hou

se

New

bab

y in

hom

e

Par

ent c

hang

e of

job

Par

ent l

oss

of jo

b

Rem

arria

ge o

f par

ent

Ser

ious

illn

ess

of

pare

nt

Ser

ious

illn

ess

of

sibl

ing

All children 12.0 7.8 14.0 8.0 11.6 3.3 1.1 4.3 2.0Language background other than English 4.5 4.3 14.8 9.7 7.8 3.1 0.6 2.4 2.4

Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander 16.8 17.4 23.9 11.1 12.9 6.1 2.7 9.0 3.8

Areas of most disadvantage (IRSED 1) 11.3 9.8 14.1 9.1 10.8 3.8 1.3 4.8 2.3

Areas of least disadvantage (IRSED 5) 11.3 5.0 13.9 6.9 11.0 2.8 0.8 3.5 1.7

One-parent family 13.6 41.8 27.2 6.4 13.3 4.5 4.0 7.5 2.5

Boys 11.4 7.8 14.4 8.2 11.7 3.4 1.1 4.3 2.1

Girls 13.2 8.0 14.3 8.3 11.9 3.4 1.2 4.4 2.1

Rural/Regional areas 14.6 9.9 16.4 8.3 14.4 3.6 1.5 5.1 2.5

Metropolitan areas 10.9 6.9 13.0 8.0 10.4 3.2 1.0 4.0 1.9

The SEHQ also asked parents to indicate if there is a family history of specific issues, which are outlined in Table 22. Of all issues listed, parental mental illness is the most common issue to be reported, with one in sixteen families experiencing a history of parental mental illness.

Population groups at risk, with the exception of children from a language background other than English, are more likely to report a family history of one or more of the issues listed.

One-parent families and families with Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander children are approximately four times more likely to report a history of abuse to a parent, history of drug related problems, and a history of child witnessing violence compared with the general population. Table 22: Proportion of children with reported family issues, Victoria, 2012

Population group

His

tory

of a

buse

to

chi

ld

His

tory

of a

buse

to

par

ent

His

tory

of a

lcoh

ol

or d

rug

rela

ted

prob

lem

s in

fam

ily

His

tory

of c

hild

w

itnes

sing

vi

olen

ce

His

tory

of

gam

blin

g pr

oble

m

in th

e fa

mily

His

tory

of m

enta

l ill

ness

of p

aren

t

His

tory

of p

aren

t w

itnes

sing

vi

olen

ce

All children 1.1 3.2 3.7 3.1 1.0 6.2 3.1

General Health 23

Language background other than English 0.7 1.4 1.4 1.4 0.8 1.5 1.6Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander 4.6 13.8 16.7 16.4 2.9 16.1 14.0Areas of most disadvantage (IRSED 1) 1.7 4.6 4.9 4.7 1.3 6.8 4.3Areas of least disadvantage (IRSED 5) 0.5 1.9 2.3 1.5 0.8 4.6 1.9

One-parent family 3.7 13.9 13.8 13.9 3.0 14.8 10.4

Boys 1.2 3.3 3.8 3.3 1.1 6.4 3.3

Girls 1.0 3.3 3.7 3.1 1.0 6.3 3.0

Rural/Regional areas 1.5 4.4 5.0 4.4 1.1 8.5 4.1

Metropolitan areas 0.9 2.8 3.1 2.6 0.9 5.3 2.7


General Health 24

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