Well done to Netmums for their latest survey 'What Mums want'.
http://www.netmums.com/campaigns/What_Mums_Want.5008/
As the new coalition Government makes its plans for Public Services, Netmums took a good look at what works and what doesn't, and found out about the needs of families from across the country.
In early June 2010, 1,860 Netmums members completed this detailed survey which was produced in partnership with 4Children and Unite/CPHVA (Community Practitioners' and Health Visitors' Association). The key messages are...
New health visitors
Netmums says: The 4,200 new Health Visitors promised by the Government are very much needed.
62% of mums say they either don't have a Health Visitor, or for those that do, they feel they wouldn't be happy to call them.
More cost effective
Netmums says: More health visitors should lead to fewer mums going to visit their (more expensive) GPs
Almost half of mums would go to their GP as a first port of call when they have a child-related problem such as breast-feeding, weaning, child development worry or minor child health problem.
The mums that do talk to a qualified Health Visitor are more likely to feel they have been helped than those who see either a GP or someone else from a health visiting team.
Many mums struggle
Netmums says: Parents needs are great with 82% of mums having experienced child related problems in the past year and 57% of mums struggling with potentially more serious personal problems
4 out of 10 mums suffered with postnatal depression and a quarter struggled with relationship problems in the past year
Those who are on low incomes are also more likely to suffer - over half of mums on family incomes of under £20,000 a year with a child under the age of 5
But it's not only those on low incomes. A third of mums with a family income of £60,000 - £70,000 are also suffering with PND or anxiety.
Mums often have multiple problems
Netmums says: It takes a skilled worker and a suitable environment to be able to talk through mental health, relationship problems, child behaviour and health issues.
Many of the mental health problems are either caused by or contribute to a whole range of other problems. Having PND means you are 70% more likely to also have relationship problems with your partner, 7 times more likely to struggle to bond with your child, 3 times more likely to have a difficult relationship with a child.
Those who had worries about a child's development, or about their behaviour are also more likely to suffer with anxiety or Postnatal Depression, in fact of all the mums who had a child under the age of 5 and were concerns about child behaviour, 57% had PND or anxiety.
Children's Centres a place to go
Netmums says: Parents are using Children's Centres as a place to go and while there, also picking up advice and information on a range of issues.
Of the parents living in England with a child under the age of one, 60% said they used their Children's Centre a lot or sometimes, and a further 13% very occasionally.
Netmums Solutions: filling the gaps
It was great to see that mums are using Netmums to build their social networks through the Meet-a-Mum boards and Meetup Groups. In fact, more had met their closest friends through Netmums than through their baby-clinic It's well known that a network of local friends can provide a lot of support to new mums.
The survey showed that our
online Health Visitor Drop-in Clinic would be used by 80% of those who knew about it (60% of those surveyed), and was thought particularly helpful as a first port of call by those who didn't have a local health visitor, and for those on low incomes.
The figures around PND are VERY scary.
I will continue my campaign as much as I can and especially am keen to continue with my training with Ann Girling for Children's centres.
Elaine Hanzak
