title: Examining the relationship between childhood health conditions and health service utilisation at school entry and subsequent academic performance in a large cohort of Australian children.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Chronic health conditions are associated with poor academic outcomes. This study examines the relationship between health conditions, specialist health service utilisation and academic performance in Australian children.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a quasi-longitudinal study where School Entrant Health Questionnaire (a survey tool with parent report on children's health) data for 24 678 children entering school in 2008 was matched with the 2011 National Assessment Program - Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN). Linear and logistic regressions were used to examine associations between health conditions, use of a specialist health service and reading and numeracy scores.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study comprised 24 678 children. Children with allergies, very low birth weight, developmental delay, diabetes, spina bifida, cystic fibrosis, birth abnormality, speech problems, intellectual disability and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder had lower numeracy scores than those without any of these conditions (P < 0.05). The same children had higher odds (1.2-5.8) of being at or below the national minimum standard for numeracy. Children with developmental delay, epilepsy, dental problems, speech, intellectual disabilities and low birth weight had lower reading scores than those without these conditions (P < 0.05) and had higher odds of being at (odds ratio: 1.3) or below (odds ratio: 3.7) the national minimum standard for reading. Children with health conditions who had ever accessed specialist health services did not differ in their academic performance from those that had not used specialist health services.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Some health conditions put children at risk of poorer academic performance, and interventions to prevent this such as appropriate support services in schools should be considered.
authors.affiliation: The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: Esther
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Nasuuna
authors.affiliation: The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Santoro
authors.affiliation: Deakin University, Geelong, Australia.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kremer
authors.affiliation: Dental Health Services Victoria, Melbourne, Australia.|Melbourne Dental School, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: Andrea M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: de Silva
mesh_terms: D000124:Achievement; D001315:Australia; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006296:Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006304:Health Status; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D012574:Schools; D013334:Students
keywords: academic performance; chronic health conditions; education; general paediatrics; international child health