Healthy Child Programme: final report

Respondents were asked which of the terms were preferable to describe physical problems with the baby identified at, or shortly after, birth:

1. Physical abnormalities detected at birth
2. Physical problems detected at birth

Preferred term	Number	%
Physical abnormalities detected at birth	188	34%
Physical problems detected at birth	245	45%
Neither	59	11%
Unsure	57	10%

N: 549

In line with the survey findings, the project team recommends that physical problems detected at birth should be included as a heading.

Respondents were provided with the following options for physical problems detected at birth and asked if the list was appropriate:

• Cephalohaematoma
• Caput succedaneum
• Extensive bruising
• Erythematous skin rash
• Vesicular skin rash
• Talipes equina varus
• Plagiocephaly
• Laceration
• Erb’s Palsy
• Cleft lip
• Cleft palate
• Anal atresia
• Absent finger
• Absent toe
• Fractured clavicle
• Other (SNOMED CT)

A thematic analysis of the qualitative responses identified the following common themes and the project team’s recommended response.

Physical problems detected at birth	Recommended Response
Caput succedaneum is a common result of the labour process and has no ongoing significance	Remove this option from the list
Erythematous and vesicular skin rashes are very common and should not be in the same list as physical problems	Remove this option from the list
Plagiocephaly often occurs following vaginal delivery but rarely persists.	Remove this option from the list
Absent finger/ toe is uncommon	Remove this option from the list