Duncan, Khaleelah M. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6841-4950, MacGillivray, Steve and Renfrew, Mary J. (2017) Costs and savings of parenting interventions: results of a systematic review. Child: Care, Health and Development, 43 (6). pp. 797-811. ISSN 0305-1862

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Abstract

Background

This systematic review of economic evaluations of universal preventative or targeted treatment parenting interventions that aim to enhance parent–infant interaction is primarily intended to inform decision makers who have to make difficult spending decisions, especially at a time of reduced spending allocations. A synthesis of available costs and savings about parenting interventions that set out to enhance parent–infant interaction is presented. This topic is important specifically in view of the UK Governments' emphasis on the equalities agenda and the early years. The benefits of positive early life experiences, which include good parent–infant interaction, are far reaching and may be positively correlated with improved educational, health and well-being outcomes and reduced criminality.
Methods

A literature search was undertaken using on-line indexing databases between 2004 and 2014 that included the search terms ‘parent’, ‘infant’, ‘interaction’, ‘cost benefit analysis’ and their synonyms.
Results

Despite existing economic studies generally focusing upon targeted short-run outcomes, significant savings were observed in the included studies. Parenting interventions could save the health service around £2.5k per family over 25 years and could save the criminal justice system over £145k per person over the life course. In light of the escalating costs of remedial services, these potential savings may provide the UK and other governments with a robust incentive to invest in early years parenting interventions.
Conclusions

Parenting interventions can be economically efficient and return savings on investment. Moreover, and one might argue as a moral imperative of democratic societies, population health can be improved and health inequalities reduced. An important debate is needed about early years policy, to include acknowledgement of the differences between UK and international healthcare systems and the potential savings from the synergistic and spin-off effects of early years interventions to inform decision-making to fund and implement appropriate action.

Item Type:	Article
Identifier:	10.1111/cch.12473
Additional Information:	© 2017 John Wiley & Sons Ltd. This is the accepted version of the following article: Duncan, K. M., MacGillivray, S., and Renfrew, M. J. (2017) Costs and savings of parenting interventions: results of a systematic review. Child: Care, Health and Development, which has been published in final form at https://doi.org/10.1111/cch.12473.
Keywords:	cost-effectiveness analysis; decision makers; health economics; parent–infant interaction; resource allocation; systematic review
Subjects:	Medicine and health > Child health Medicine and health
Depositing User:	Khaleelah Duncan
Date Deposited:	06 Jul 2017 12:19
Last Modified:	04 Nov 2024 12:08
URI:	https://repository.uwl.ac.uk/id/eprint/3265

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