Antenatal and newborn screening
Maternal Health
Newborn Health
Screening
Behavioural Risk Factors
Alcohol
Diabetes
Healthy Lives
Healthy People
Hypertension
Perinatal Mental Health
Protective Measures
Smoking
Introduction
Antenatal and newborn (ANNB) screening programmes identify potential health risks in pregnant women and newborns. These screenings help in early detection and management of conditions that could impact maternal and child health, enabling timely interventions to improve outcomes. Newborn screening extends this focus to detect serious but treatable conditions.
ANNB screening is important in reducing health inequalities, supporting early diagnosis, and improving health outcomes. There are population-specific risks, service accessibility, and collaboration among health, social care, and voluntary sectors for effective screening programmes.
Derbyshire expectant mothers will usually be under the care of a community midwife and a hospital. The community midwives are usually based at residents own GP surgeries and appointments will be accessed at the practice. Hospitals in Derbyshire offering maternity care are Derby Royal Hospital and Chesterfield Royal Hospital. Residents who live in Derbyshire but close to the border of another county may access their care at a neighbouring hospital. Expectant mothers and families can choose which hospital best suits their needs and can also change their booked hospital at any time in their pregnancy. In the early postnatal period (usually around 10-14 days after birth), care will be transferred from the community midwife team to the health visiting team.
Wider support for maternity support is accessible on a local basis which will vary, depending on where you live but may include classes and groups. There is also a vast amount of relevant online resources available.
Why is it important to Population Health?
ANNB is crucial for population health, identifying conditions that could lead to health challenges for individuals, families, and society. It promotes early detection and intervention, allowing for timely medical or lifestyle interventions, reducing the risk of severe complications, long-term disabilities, and life-threatening outcomes, improving quality of life and alleviating future burdens on families and caregivers.
ANNB screening reduces health inequalities by providing standardised, equitable access to early diagnostic services, particularly for ethnic groups, such as sickle cell disease and thalassemia. It also helps alleviate healthcare burdens by preventing or mitigating disease progression, such as early detection and management of intellectual disabilities, which would otherwise require lifelong care and significant resource allocation.
It enhances maternal and infant health, fostering healthier populations and contributing positively to society and the economy. It supports public health goals by reducing infant mortality, preventing maternal complications, and improving overall population wellbeing. It aligns with preventative health strategies and addresses health determinants like socioeconomic factors and access to care.
Despite its benefits, ANNB screening programmes face challenges like equitable access, public awareness, and follow-up care. Collaboration between healthcare providers, public health agencies, and community organisations is needed to build trust, enhance service delivery, and mitigate risks. Prioritising ANNB screening can reduce preventable health issues and improve community wellbeing.
The Derbyshire Population Health Approach
The Derbyshire Population Health Approach focuses on prevention, population health, evidence-informed practices, causes, and collaboration. It emphasises proactive measures to prevent health issues, tailors interventions to specific populations, incorporates evidence-informed practices, addresses underlying causes, and promotes collaboration for effective action.
When considering the topic of ANNB screening programmes within The Derbyshire Population Health Approach:
• Prevention
ANNB screening programmes are proactive measures to identify risks during pregnancy, including maternal infections, chromosomal abnormalities, and foetal structural anomalies. Newborn screenings detect critical conditions like sickle cell disease, congenital hypothyroidism, and cystic fibrosis. Vaccination initiatives, such as pertussis (whooping cough) and influenza, protect maternal and newborn health. Health education on ANNB screening, healthy pregnancy practices, and early intervention benefits is provided to expectant mothers and families. Lifestyle support, such as weight management and healthy diets, can improve maternal health and screening outcomes. Programmes like Live Life Better Derbyshire Home - Live Life Better Derbyshire encourage informed decision making and awareness.
Derbyshire’s prevention programmes include routine NHS antenatal screenings for pregnant women, and Live Life Better Derbyshire, which supports lifestyle changes like smoking cessation and weight management, to engage vulnerable populations, including ethnic minorities and socioeconomically deprived areas, who may face barriers to accessing screenings or understanding their importance.
Derbyshire’s framework promotes healthy behaviours through education and outreach, empowering individuals to manage their health. It provides culturally sensitive materials, accessible services, and personalised care, aiming to enhance maternal and newborn outcomes, reduce health inequalities, and build resilient communities.
• Population
The Derbyshire Population Health Approach acknowledges that the impact of antenatal and newborn screening varies across different demographic groups due to a range of factors, including socioeconomic status, ethnicity, and geographic location. Addressing these disparities is essential to ensure equitable access, uptake, and outcomes from ANNB screening programmes.
Certain ethnic groups, such as African, Caribbean, Mediterranean, and South Asian individuals, are at higher risk of specific conditions identified through ANNB screening. Tailored approaches are crucial for early detection and management. Language barriers, cultural beliefs, and mistrust of healthcare systems can hinder engagement in screening programmes among some ethnic minority groups. Socioeconomic status, such as high deprivation, can also impact ANNB screening uptake rates due to lack of awareness, transportation issues, and competing life priorities. Deprivation also increases maternal and newborn health risks, such as poor nutrition, limited access to prenatal care, and higher smoking prevalence.
Derbyshire’s rural areas face challenges in accessing ANNB services due to fewer facilities and longer travel distances, while urban areas may face overcrowding and resource constraints, potentially impacting service quality. Young mothers and vulnerable groups, such as those with housing instability or mental health issues, also face barriers.
Derbyshire’s population health approach aims to address health inequalities by focusing on targeted outreach, improving access, and offering enhanced support. By engaging high-risk populations through culturally tailored education campaigns and community liaison programmes, awareness and participation can be improved. Providing flexible screening options, such as mobile clinics or extended hours, can bridge service accessibility gaps, especially in rural or under-served areas. Additionally, resources like translation services, culturally sensitive care, and social support networks can help address unique needs among diverse populations. By addressing underlying disparities and tailoring approaches to the needs of specific demographic groups, ANNB programmes can contribute to healthier beginnings for all children, irrespective of their background or circumstances.
• Evidence
ANNB programmes are based on robust evidence and national guidance to improve maternal and child health outcomes. They identify conditions early, enabling timely interventions to prevent complications, improve quality of life, and reduce long-term healthcare costs. The NHS provides a comprehensive framework for ANNB screening, including screening for infectious diseases, chromosomal abnormalities, and rare conditions like phenylketonuria and cystic fibrosis.
The UK National Screening Committee (NSC) recommends early prenatal testing and care for pregnant women to identify risks and conditions. It emphasises addressing modifiable risk factors like obesity, smoking, and substance use to improve screening outcomes. The UK NSC provides evidence-based recommendations for national screening programmes, ensuring benefits outweigh risks.
Studies show that equitable access to ANNB screening improves maternal and newborn health outcomes by identifying and addressing conditions early. Tailored interventions, including culturally sensitive education and accessible services, enhance participation and outcomes. Coordinating ANNB screening with broader services improves engagement and intervention effectiveness. Public awareness campaigns increase uptake and family information.
ANNB screening, although supported by substantial evidence, still faces gaps in long-term impact, barriers to uptake, cost-effectiveness, and emerging technologies. Limited research exists on the long-term health and social outcomes of individuals identified through ANNB screening. Further research is needed to understand and address these barriers, particularly in under-served populations. Exploring the economic implications of expanding screening programmes and evaluating emerging technologies like NIPT (Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing) can help guide future research and policy development.
• Causes
The effectiveness of ANNB screening is influenced by a complex interplay of individual, social, economic, and environmental factors. These factors shape health behaviours, access to care, and the likelihood of positive outcomes. Individual determinants include limited knowledge about ANNB screening benefits, lifestyle factors like smoking, substance use, and poor nutrition during pregnancy, cultural beliefs and perceptions, language barriers, pre-existing health conditions, and socioeconomic status. Limited knowledge about the benefits of ANNB screening, mistrust of healthcare systems, and language barriers can deter participation. Pre-existing health conditions, such as obesity, diabetes, or hypertension, heighten risks during pregnancy and complicate screening processes and outcomes. Socioeconomic status, transportation costs, and limited access to healthcare facilities exacerbate disparities in screening access.
Limited health literacy, lack of support networks, economic factors like healthcare access and affordability, workplace barriers, and environmental factors like geographic disparities can hinder the understanding of the importance of ANNB screening. These factors, particularly in low-income communities, can exacerbate health inequalities. Additionally, indirect costs, healthcare workforce shortages, and workplace barriers can discourage participation. Geographic disparities, such as rural areas with fewer healthcare facilities, can also impact access to ANNB services.
Unstable housing and overcrowded living conditions can lead to stress and reduced healthcare priorities, complicating maternal and newborn health. To address these determinants, Derbyshire can implement targeted interventions such as expanding outreach and education campaigns, improving service accessibility through mobile clinics or flexible appointment systems, and strengthening cross-sector collaboration. This approach can create a more inclusive and effective ANNB screening programme, reducing disparities and improving health outcomes for all.
• Collaboration
Derbyshire’s approach to ANNB screening emphasises the importance of collaboration among stakeholders across the healthcare system, local authorities, community, organisations and the public. This collaboration aims to deliver inclusive, high-quality, and impactful screening programmes that meet the needs of diverse populations. Effective ANNB screening requires seamless integration between primary care, secondary care, and community health services to ensure timely referrals, accurate diagnostics, and appropriate follow-up. Collaboration with community groups and voluntary organisations can bridge gaps for under-served populations, providing culturally sensitive outreach and reducing access barriers. Policy alignment with national and regional stakeholders ensures ANNB programmes align with national policies and local needs.
Derbyshire’s local Maternity and Neonatal System (LMNS) ensures consistent and equitable implementation of ANNB screening across the county. Collaborations focus on training healthcare providers, standardising protocols, and improving service accessibility. Community and voluntary sector partnerships, such as Live Life Better Derbyshire and local support groups, engage communities and raise awareness. Faith-based and cultural organisations help address cultural barriers and improve participation in screening programmes. Educational collaborations with schools, colleges, and community centres, educate young people and expectant mothers about the importance of ANNB screening and healthy pregnancy behaviours.
Health and Social Care Integration is crucial for addressing broader health determinants, such as housing and financial instability, that may impact participation in screening programmes. Collaboration between health services and social care providers can improve accessibility and engagement through joint initiatives like mobile clinics and pop-up screening events in rural and under-served areas. Data sharing and technology can help track screening outcomes and reduce follow-up care gaps. Collaborative training programmes ensure healthcare staff are equipped to deliver high-quality, culturally sensitive ANNB services. Engaging with families, service users, and local communities helps refine screening programmes and address real-world challenges. Strengthening existing partnerships and fostering new collaborations can address systemic barriers, enhance service quality and reach, build trust and engagement, and deliver cost-effective, sustainable solutions that benefit population health.
Latest Derbyshire Data
Trend Data
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Prevalence Maps of Derbyshire
The maps below illustrate Lower Super Output Areas (LSOAs) and Middle Super Output Areas (MSOAs) for Derbyshire. LSOAs and MSOAs are geographical divisions used for statistical purposes, allowing for more detailed analysis of local data. In these maps, you can explore various health indicators and data for Derbyshire, providing valuable insights into the area’s health and wellbeing.