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Child Health Profile

March 2023

Wirral

This profile provides a snapshot of child health in this area. It is designed to help local government and health services improve the health and wellbeing of children and tackle health inequalities.

2021 mid-year population estimates

In December 2022, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) released mid-year estimates (MYE) of the population for 2021. These were based on the 2021 census and do not align with older MYE for earlier years, which were based on the 2011 census. This means that it is not possible to compare metrics produced using the 2021 MYE with earlier versions of the same metric. For this reason, analysis of some trends has been removed from the 2023 version of Child Health Profiles. It has also not been possible to calculate any metrics which use pooled years of data that would include 2021 MYE in the process; for example, hospital admissions of children and young people for conditions wholly related to alcohol. Within the report, these indicators have been updated to cover three years ending financial year 2021 which is an update on the 2021 version of this report. However, this data has been available in the Fingertips tool for some time. Currently ONS plan to release updated mid year estimates for years 2012 to 2020, which will align with the 2021 census and 2021 MYE, in November 2023. It will then be possible for us to re-calculate metrics for years prior to 2021 and re-instate the analysis of trends. We will also be able to calculate metrics for pooled years using aligned population estimates.

The child population in this area

Local Region England
Live births (2021) 3,024 78,127 595,948
Children aged 0 to 4 years (2021) 16,200
5.1% 		405,000
5.5% 		3,058,200
5.4%
Children aged 0 to 19 years (2021) 71,600
22.3% 		1,733,300
23.4% 		13,040,500
23.1%
Children aged 0 to 19 years in 2031 (projected from 2018) 70,400
21.3% 		1,747,600
22.8% 		13,357,000
22.5%
School children from minority ethnic groups (2022) 5,091
10.3% 		293,480
26.7% 		2,835,124
35.0%
School pupils with social, emotional and mental health needs (2022) 2,647
5.2% 		35,330
3.1% 		250,272
3.0%
Children living in poverty (financial year ending 2021) 15.7% 21.2% 18.5%
Life expectancy at birth (2018 to 2020) Boys 77.8 77.9 79.4
Life expectancy at birth (2018 to 2020) F Girls 81.6 81.7 83.1
Local Region England
Live births (2021) 3,024 78,127 595,948
Children aged 0 to 4 years (2021) 16,200
5.1% 		405,000
5.5% 		3,058,200
5.4%
Children aged 0 to 19 years (2021) 71,600
22.3% 		1,733,300
23.4% 		13,040,500
23.1%
Children aged 0 to 19 years in 2031 (projected from 2018) 70,400
21.3% 		1,747,600
22.8% 		13,357,000
22.5%
School children from minority ethnic groups (2022) 5,091
10.3% 		293,480
26.7% 		2,835,124
35.0%
School pupils with social, emotional and mental health needs (academic year ending 2022) 2,647
5.2% 		35,330
3.1% 		250,272
3.0%
Children living in poverty (financial year ending 2021) 15.7% 21.2% 18.5%
Life expectancy at birth (2018 to 2020) Boys 77.8 77.9 79.4
Life expectancy at birth (2018 to 2020) F Girls 81.6 81.7 83.1

Children aged under 16 years living in poverty

Map of the North West region with Wirral outlined, showing the relative levels of children living in poverty in the financial year ending 2021, divided into national quartiles.

The map shows 15.7% of the children aged under 16 living in Wirral are in poverty, in quartile 2 nationally (1 is low).

Map contains Ordnance Survey data.

You may re-use this information (excluding logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence v3.0. To view this licence, visit the National Archives. Where we have identified any third party copyright information you will need to obtain permission from the copyright holders concerned.

2021 mid-year population estimates

Note the impact of updated mid-year population estimates. See the indicator guide for more details.

Main findings

Overall, comparing local indicators with England averages, the health and wellbeing of children in Wirral is mixed.

The infant mortality rate is similar to England with an average of 11 infants dying before age 1 each year. Recently there have been 8 child deaths (1 to 17 year olds) each year on average.

Public health interventions can improve child health at a local level. In this area:

  • The teenage pregnancy rate is worse than England, with 88 girls becoming pregnant in a year.
  • 11.4% of women smoke while pregnant which is worse than England.
  • Breastfeeding rates are worse than England. 57.3% of newborns received breast milk as their first feed. By 6 to 8 weeks after birth, 31.9% of mothers are still breastfeeding.
  • The MMR immunisation level does not meet recommended coverage (95%). By age 2, 92.4% of children have had one dose.
  • The number of 5 year olds with experience of dental decay is not available.
  • 10.8% of children in Reception and 21.3% of children in Year 6 are obese.
  • The rate of child inpatient admissions for mental health conditions at 137.5 per 100,000 is worse than England. The rate of self-harm (10 to 24 years) at 603.1 per 100,000 is worse than England.

The level of child poverty is better than England with 15.7% of children living in relative low income families. The rate of households with children that are homeless or at risk of homelessness is better than England.

The hospital admission rate for under 18s for alcohol specific conditions is 42.0 per 100,000, which is worse than England. The hospital admission rate for substance misuse is 205.1 per 100,000, which is worse than England.

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Childhood obesity

These charts show the percentage of children who have excess weight (obese or overweight) in Reception (aged 4 to 5 years) and Year 6 (aged 10 to 11 years). They compare Wirral with its statistical neighbours, and the England average. Compared with the England averages, this area has a similar percentage of children in Reception (23.5%) and a similar percentage in Year 6 (36.7%) who have excess weight.

dark blue Obese pale blue All children with excess weight, some of whom are obese

Children aged 4 to 5 years who have excess weight in the academic year ending 2022 (percentage)

A bar chart showing the proportion of children in Reception year who are overweight or obese in England, Wirral, and its four nearest neighbours.

Children aged 10 to 11 years who have excess weight in the academic year ending 2022 (percentage)

A bar chart showing the proportion of children in Year 6 who are overweight or obese in England, Wirral, and its four nearest neighbours.

Note: This analysis uses the 85th and 95th centiles of the British 1990 growth reference (UK90) for BMI to classify children as overweight and obese. indicates 95% confidence interval.

Young people and alcohol

Nationally, the rate of hospital admissions of children and young people for conditions wholly related to alcohol, between 2016 and 2020, is decreasing. This is not the case in Wirral, where there is no significant trend. The admission rate in the latest pooled period is worse than the England average.

Hospital admissions of children and young people for conditions wholly related to alcohol (rate per 100,000 population aged 0 to 17 years)

A line chart showing the rates of admissions for conditions wholly related to alcohol in England and Wirral between 2016 and 2020. Over the three financial years ending in 2021, the England rate was 29.3 and the Wirral rate was 42.0.

Young people’s mental health

Nationally, the rate of young people being admitted to hospital as a result of self-harm, between 2016 and 2020, is not significantly changing. This is not the case in Wirral, where the trend is increasing. The admission rate in the latest pooled period is also worse than the England average*. Nationally, levels of self-harm are higher among young women than young men.

Young people admitted to hospital as a result of self-harm (rate per 100,000 population aged 10 to 24 years)

A line chart showing the rates of admissions for self-harm in England and Wirral between 2016 and 2020. Over the three financial years ending in 2021, the England rate was 435.0 and the Wirral rate was 650.1.

*Information about admissions in the single year 2021/22 can be found on page 4

*Information about admissions in the single year 2021/22 can be found in the spine chart below

Wirral - March 2023 | Office for Health Improvement and Disparities - GOV.UK | Fingertips | Contact us

These charts compare Wirral with its statistical neighbours, and England and regional averages.

Child development at 2 to 2½ years

Children at or above expected level of development in all five areas at 2 to 2½ years in the financial year ending 2022 (percentage of children reviewed)

A bar chart showing the proportion of children aged 2 to 2 and a half who were at or above the expected level in all five areas of development in England, North West, Wirral, and its four nearest neighbours.

83.5% of children aged 2 to 2½ years were at or above the expected level of development in all five areas of development (communication, gross motor, fine motor, problem-solving and personal-social skills) in the financial year ending 2022. This is higher than the England average. A similar proportion of children were at or above the expected level of development for communication skills (87.5%) and a similar proportion for personal-social skills (91.1%) when compared with England (86.5% for communication and 91.2% for personal-social skills).

Breastfeeding

First feed breast milk in the financial year ending 2021 (percentage of newborns)

A bar chart showing the proportion of children whose first feed was breast milk in England, North West, Wirral, and its four nearest neighbours.

Breastfeeding rates in this area are lower than England. 57.3% of newborns received breast milk as their first feed. By 6 to 8 weeks after birth, 31.9% of mothers are still breastfeeding.

Young people’s sexual and reproductive health

Teenage conceptions in girls aged under 18 years, 2020 (rate per 1,000 female population aged 15 to 17 years)

A bar chart showing the rate of conceptions among girls aged under 18 years in England, North West, Wirral, and its four nearest neighbours.

In 2020, approximately 16 girls aged under 18 conceived, for every 1,000 girls aged 15 to 17 years living in this area. This is similar to the regional average and higher than the England average. Chlamydia screening is recommended for all sexually active 15 to 24 year olds. Increasing detection rates indicate improved screening activity; it is not a measure of prevalence. The UK Health Security Agency recommends that local authorities should be working towards a minimum rate of 3,250 per 100,000 in the female population aged 15 to 24, effective from January 2022. In 2021, the detection rate in this area was 2,469 per 100,000 which is approaching the minimum recommended rate, from 2022, of at least 3,250.

Measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccination

MMR vaccination coverage by age of 2 years in the financial year ending 2022 (percentage of eligible children)

A bar chart showing the proportion of children who had received their first dose of the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine in England, North West, Wirral, and its four nearest neighbours.

The shaded area from 90% shows the range of values approaching the minimum recommended coverage of 95% (the black line).

The shaded area from 90% shows the range of values approaching the minimum recommended coverage of 95% (the black line).

Slightly less than 95% (the minimum recommended coverage level) of children have received their first dose of MMR immunisation by the age of 2 in this area (92.4%). By the age of 5, only 90.5% of children have received their second dose of MMR immunisation.

Note: Where data is not available or figures have been suppressed, no bar will appear in the chart for that area.

Wirral - March 2023 | Office for Health Improvement and Disparities - GOV.UK | Fingertips | Contact us

Overview of Child Health

The chart below shows how children’s health and wellbeing in this area compares with the rest of England. The local result for each indicator is shown as a circle, against the range of results for England shown as a grey bar. The line at the centre of the chart shows the England average.

No significant change Not significantly different from the England average
Increasing/decreasing and getting better Significantly better than the England average
Increasing/decreasing and getting worse Significantly worse than the England average
Trend cannot be calculated Significance cannot be tested
Indicator Recent trend Local no. per year* Local value Eng. avg Eng. worst Eng. best

Premature
mortality

1 Infant mortality rate 11 3.6 3.9 7.5 1.2
2 Child mortality rate (1 to 17 years) 8 12.0 10.3 17.7 6.1

Health
protection

3 MMR vaccination for one dose (2 years) 3,007 92.4 89.2 65.4 97.7
4 Dtap/IPV/Hib vaccination (2 years) 3,114 95.7 93.0 70.6 99.1
5 Children in care immunisations 614 95.0 85.0 30.0 100.0

Wider determinants
of ill health

6 Children achieving a good level of development at the end of Reception 2,185 62.9 65.2 53.1 74.4
7 GCSE attainment: average Attainment 8 score 47.7 48.7 39.2 61.3
8 GCSE attainment: average Attainment 8 score of children in care 27.8 23.2 14.2 38.3
9 16 to 17 year olds not in education, employment or training (NEET) 306 4.1 4.7 14.7 1.4
10 First time entrants to the youth justice system 35 114.5 146.9 446.9 56.3
11 Children in relative low income families (under 16s) 9,413 15.7 18.5 42.4 6.2
12 Households with children homeless or at risk of homelessness 433 11.6 14.4 39.3 4.5
13 Children in care 789 120 70 218 26
14 Children killed and seriously injured (KSI) on England’s roads 13 22.1 15.9 55.0 2.6

Health
improvement

15 Low birth weight of term babies 76 2.7 2.8 5.0 1.5
16 Obese children (4 to 5 years) 330 10.8 10.1 14.9 5.4
17 Obese children (10 to 11 years) 675 21.3 23.4 34.0 12.4
18 Children with experience of visually obvious dental decay (5 years) 23.4 50.9 8.7
19 Hospital admissions for dental caries (0 to 5 years) 10 46.8 220.8 931.3 7.5
20 Under 18s conception rate / 1,000 88 16.4 13.0 30.4 2.7
21 Teenage mothers 35 1.3 0.6 2.4 0.0
22 Admission episodes for alcohol-specific conditions - Under 18s 28 42.0 29.3 83.8 7.7
23 Hospital admissions due to substance misuse (15 to 24 years) 68 205.1 81.2 229.4 16.9

Prevention
of ill health

24 Smoking status at time of delivery 330 11.4 9.1 21.1 3.1
25 Baby’s first feed breastmilk 1,545 57.3 71.7 1.3 98.6
26 Breastfeeding prevalence at 6 to 8 weeks after birth 965 31.9 49.3
27 A&E attendances (0 to 4 years) 12,385 762.8 762.8 2,080.6 387.2
28 Hospital admissions caused by injuries in children (0 to 14 years) 530 97.7 84.3 162.2 38.8
29 Hospital admissions caused by injuries in young people (15 to 24 years) 510 157.3 118.6 252.2 53.3
30 Hospital admissions for asthma (under 19 years) 90 130.6 131.5 438.0 47.0
31 Hospital admissions for mental health conditions 90 137.5 99.8 355.1 33.3
32 Hospital admissions as a result of self-harm (10-24 years) 315 603.1 427.3 1,051.7 127.6
Indicator Recent trend Local number per year* Local value England average England worst England best

Premature
mortality

1 Infant mortality rate 11 3.6 3.9 7.5 1.2
2 Child mortality rate (1 to 17 years) 8 12.0 10.3 17.7 6.1

Health
protection

3 MMR vaccination for one dose (2 years) 3,007 92.4 89.2 65.4 97.7
4 Dtap/IPV/Hib vaccination (2 years) 3,114 95.7 93.0 70.6 99.1
5 Children in care immunisations 614 95.0 85.0 30.0 100.0

Wider determinants
of ill health

6 Children achieving a good level of development at the end of Reception 2,185 62.9 65.2 53.1 74.4
7 GCSE attainment: average Attainment 8 score 47.7 48.7 39.2 61.3
8 GCSE attainment: average Attainment 8 score of children in care 27.8 23.2 14.2 38.3
9 16 to 17 year olds not in education, employment or training (NEET) 306 4.1 4.7 14.7 1.4
10 First time entrants to the youth justice system 35 114.5 146.9 446.9 56.3
11 Children in relative low income families (under 16s) 9,413 15.7 18.5 42.4 6.2
12 Households with children homeless or at risk of homelessness 433 11.6 14.4 39.3 4.5
13 Children in care 789 120 70 218 26
14 Children killed and seriously injured (KSI) on England’s roads 13 22.1 15.9 55.0 2.6

Health
improvement

15 Low birth weight of term babies 76 2.7 2.8 5.0 1.5
16 Obese children (4 to 5 years) 330 10.8 10.1 14.9 5.4
17 Obese children (10 to 11 years) 675 21.3 23.4 34.0 12.4
18 Children with experience of visually obvious dental decay (5 years) 23.4 50.9 8.7
19 Hospital admissions for dental caries (0 to 5 years) 10 46.8 220.8 931.3 7.5
20 Under 18s conception rate / 1,000 88 16.4 13.0 30.4 2.7
21 Teenage mothers 35 1.3 0.6 2.4 0.0
22 Admission episodes for alcohol-specific conditions - Under 18s 28 42.0 29.3 83.8 7.7
23 Hospital admissions due to substance misuse (15 to 24 years) 68 205.1 81.2 229.4 16.9

Prevention
of ill health

24 Smoking status at time of delivery 330 11.4 9.1 21.1 3.1
25 Baby’s first feed breastmilk 1,545 57.3 71.7 1.3 98.6
26 Breastfeeding prevalence at 6 to 8 weeks after birth 965 31.9 49.3
27 A&E attendances (0 to 4 years) 12,385 762.8 762.8 2,080.6 387.2
28 Hospital admissions caused by injuries in children (0 to 14 years) 530 97.7 84.3 162.2 38.8
29 Hospital admissions caused by injuries in young people (15 to 24 years) 510 157.3 118.6 252.2 53.3
30 Hospital admissions for asthma (under 19 years) 90 130.6 131.5 438.0 47.0
31 Hospital admissions for mental health conditions 90 137.5 99.8 355.1 33.3
32 Hospital admissions as a result of self-harm (10-24 years) 315 603.1 427.3 1,051.7 127.6

*Numbers in italics are calculated by dividing the total number for the three year period by three to give an average figure

Where data is not available or figures have been suppressed, this is indicated by a dash in the appropriate box

Notes and definitions

  1. Mortality rate per 1,000 live births (aged under 1), 2019 to 2021

  2. Directly standardised rate per 100,000 children aged 1 to 17, 2018 to 2020

  3. Percentage of children immunised against measles, mumps and rubella (first dose by age 2), financial year ending 2022

  4. Percentage of children completing a course of immunisation against diphtheria, tetanus, polio, pertussis and Hib by age 2, financial year ending 2022

  5. Percentage of children in care with up-to-date immunisations, 2022

  6. Percentage of children achieving a good level of development within Early Years Foundation Stage Profile, academic year ending 2022

  7. GCSE attainment: average attainment 8 score, academic year ending 2022

  8. GCSE attainment: average attainment 8 score of children looked after, 2021

  9. Percentage of 16 to 17 year olds not in education, employment or training (NEET) or whose activity is not known, 2021

  10. Rate per 100,000 of 10 to 17 year olds receiving their first reprimand, warning or conviction, 2021

  11. Percentage of children aged under 16 living in relative low income families, financial year ending 2021

  12. Crude rate of households including one or more dependent children owed a prevention or relief duty under the Homelessness Reduction Act per 1,000 households, financial year ending 2022

  13. Rate of children looked after at 31 March per 10,000 population aged under 18, 2022

  14. Crude rate of children aged 0 to 15 who were killed or seriously injured in road traffic accidents per 100,000 population,
    2018 to 2020

  15. Percentage of live-born babies, born at term, weighing less than 2,500 grams, 2021

  16. Percentage of school children in Reception year classified as obese, academic year ending 2022

  17. Percentage of school children in Year 6 classified as obese, academic year ending 2022

  18. Percentage of children aged 5 with visually obvious dental decay, academic year ending 2019

  19. Crude rate per 100,000 (aged 0 to 5) for hospital admissions for dental caries, three financial years ending 2021

  20. Under 18 conception rate per 1,000 females aged 15 to 17, 2020

  21. Percentage of delivery episodes where the mother is aged less than 18, financial year ending 2022

  22. Hospital admissions for alcohol-specific conditions – under 18, crude rate per 100,000 population, three financial years ending 2021

  23. Directly standardised rate per 100,000 (aged 15 to 24) for hospital admissions for substance misuse, three financial years ending 2021

  24. Percentage of mothers smoking at time of delivery, financial year ending 2022

  25. Percentage of newborns who receive breast milk as first feed, financial year ending 2021

  26. Percentage of mothers breastfeeding at 6 to 8 weeks, financial year ending 2022

  27. Crude rate per 1,000 (aged 0 to 4) of A&E attendances, financial year ending 2022

  28. Crude rate per 10,000 (aged 0 to 14) for emergency hospital admissions following injury, financial year ending 2022

  29. Crude rate per 10,000 (aged 15 to 24) for emergency hospital admissions following injury, financial year ending 2022

  30. Crude rate per 100,000 (aged 0 to 18) for emergency hospital admissions for asthma, financial year ending 2022

  31. Crude rate per 100,000 (aged 0 to 17) for hospital admissions for mental health, financial year ending 2022

  32. Directly standardised rate per 100,000 (aged 10 to 24) for hospital admissions for self-harm, financial year ending 2022

Notes and definitions

*Numbers in italics are calculated by dividing the total number for the three year period by three to give an average figure

Where data is not available or figures have been suppressed, this is indicated by a dash in the appropriate box

  1. Mortality rate per 1,000 live births (aged under 1), 2019-2021
  2. Directly standardised rate per 100,000 children aged 1-17, 2018-2020
  3. % children immunised against measles, mumps and rubella (first dose by age 2), 2021/22
  4. % children completing a course of immunisation against diphtheria, tetanus, polio, pertussis and Hib by age 2, 2021/22
  5. % children in care with up-to-date immunisations, 2022
  6. % children achieving a good level of development within Early Years Foundation Stage Profile, 2021/22
  7. GCSE attainment: average attainment 8 score, 2021/22
  8. GCSE attainment: average attainment 8 score of children looked after, 2021
  9. % of 16-17 year olds not in education, employment or training (NEET) or whose activity is not known, 2021
  10. Rate per 100,000 of 10-17 year olds receiving their first reprimand, warning or conviction, 2021
  11. % of children aged under 16 living in relative low income families, 2020/21
  1. Crude rate of households including one or more dependent children owed a prevention or relief duty under the Homelessness Reduction Act per 1,000 households, 2021/22
  2. Rate of children looked after at 31 March per 10,000 population aged under 18, 2022
  3. Crude rate of children aged 0-15 who were killed or seriously injured in road traffic accidents per 100,000 population,
    2018-2020
  4. % of live-born babies, born at term, weighing less than 2,500 grams, 2021
  5. % school children in Reception year classified as obese, 2021/22
  6. % school children in Year 6 classified as obese, 2021/22
  7. % children aged 5 with visually obvious dental decay, 2018/19
  8. Crude rate per 100,000 (aged 0-5) for hospital admissions for dental caries, 2018/19-2020/21
  9. Under 18 conception rate per 1,000 females aged 15-17, 2020
  10. % of delivery episodes where the mother is aged less than 18, 2021/22
  1. Hospital admissions for alcohol-specific conditions – under 18, crude rate per 100,000 population, 2018/19-2020/21
  2. Directly standardised rate per 100,000 (aged 15-24) for hospital admissions for substance misuse, 2018/19-2020/21
  3. % of mothers smoking at time of delivery, 2021/22
  4. % of newborns who receive breast milk as first feed, 2020/21
  5. % of mothers breastfeeding at 6-8 weeks, 2021/22
  6. Crude rate per 1,000 (aged 0-4) of A&E attendances, 2021/22
  7. Crude rate per 10,000 (aged 0-14) for emergency hospital admissions following injury, 2021/22
  8. Crude rate per 10,000 (aged 15-24) for emergency hospital admissions following injury, 2021/22
  9. Crude rate per 100,000 (aged 0-18) for emergency hospital admissions for asthma, 2021/22
  10. Crude rate per 100,000 (aged 0-17) for hospital admissions for mental health, 2021/22
  11. Directly standardised rate per 100,000 (aged 10-24) for hospital admissions for self-harm, 2021/22

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