Educational and health outcomes of schoolchildren in local authority care in Scotland: A retrospective record linkage study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Looked after children are defined as children who are in the care of their local authority. Previous studies have reported that looked after children have poorer mental and physical health, increased behavioural problems, and increased self-harm and mortality compared to peers. They also experience poorer educational outcomes, yet population-wide research into the latter is lacking, particularly in the United Kingdom. Education and health share a bidirectional relationship; therefore, it is important to dually investigate both outcomes. Our study aimed to compare educational and health outcomes for looked after children with peers, adjusting for sociodemographic, maternity, and comorbidity confounders.

Methods and findings

Linkage of 9 Scotland-wide databases, cov

SUBMITTER: Fleming M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8589203 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature