Research and data in the Scottish Borders: People

Why is it important to have data about health and wellbeing in children?

The Scottish Government National Performance Framework states that "Children and young people should grow up loved, safe and respected so that we realise our full potential". Every child should have equal opportunity to achieve this regardless of gender, background or any other Equalities protected characteristic. We use the latest research and data to make sure Scottish Borders plays its part in making this outcome happens in our region. The information on this page is an analysis of the policy framework, the topics and the evidence that informs this national outcome.

Scottish Borders Policy framework

Corporate Plan

The 2022-23 Scottish Borders Council Plan is key to our policy framework on how we plan to deliver services in the next few years. It consists of six corporate outcome priorities, which are informed by an evidence base, including the Strategic Assessment. 

Children and young people are central to the following priority outcomes:

• 2: "Fulfilling our potential"
• 5: "Good health and wellbeing"

You can see how we are delivering on these outcomes in our quarterly and annual performance reports.

 Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014

The Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014 sets out the requirements for public bodies to work together to report on what they are doing to progress the rights of children and young people, and to produce an integrated strategy and Action Plan, which is refreshed annually. The Scottish Borders Integrated Children and Young People's Plan is run by Scottish Borders Community Planning Partnership (CPP) and is informed by an evidence base of Official Statistics and internally-held data.

Child Poverty (Scotland) Act 2017

The Child Poverty (Scotland) Act 2017 requires the Scottish Government to meet four income-based child poverty targets by 2030 and report on the actions they will take to meet those targets. In addition, the Act places a duty on Local Authorities and Health Boards to report annually on what they are doing to contribute to reducing child poverty. The Scottish Borders Local Child Poverty Action Report is informed by an evidence base of official statistics and internal intelligence from frontline work in the local community.

Find our more about our strategies for children and young people.

Topic areas

There is a large amount of evidence from official statistics to inform children and young people policy development, across a wide range of topic areas.

Demographics of children and young people

• statistics on NRS Midyear Population Estimates, for age bands including 0-15s, 0-25s, Under 1s, 1-4s, 5-15s, Under 18s and 16-25s, at Council and Intermediate Datazone levels, are available on the Population profile of the interactive ScotPHO Online Profiles Tool
• current population estimates (young and old) for children, by gender, are available at council area and small area levels from the Scottish Official Statistics Open Data platform
• statistics on the number of births per calendar year or midyear-to-midyear for council areas and small areas are available from the Scottish Official Statistics Open Data platform
• statistics on the live birth rate per 1,000 population are available on the Health & Wellbeing and Children & Young People profiles of the interactive ScotPHO Online Profiling Tool
• statistics on the rate of deaths per 1,000 population in children aged 0-1 years and 1-15 years are available on the Children and Young People profile of the ScotPHO Online Profiling tool

Mothers and babies

• the latest statistics on the numbers of first-time mothers aged under 20 or over 35 are available on the Scottish Official Statistics Open Data Platform
• the latest statistics on ante-natal smoking status of prospective mothers are available on the Scottish Official Statistics Open Data Platform
• statistics on attempts to quit smoking amongst pregnant smokers using NHS smoking cessation services are available on the Tobacco profile of the ScotPHO Online Profiling tool
• statistics on maternal postpartum smoking rates are available on the tobacco profile of the ScotPHO Online Profiling tool
• statistics on maternal obesity are available at council and intermediate datazone levels on the Children and Young People profile of the ScotPHO Online Profiling tool
• statistics on babies born a healthy weight are available at council and Intermediate Datazone levels on the Health and Wellbeing and Children and Young People profiles of the ScotPHO Online Profiling tool
• statistics on premature births (before 37 weeks) are available at council and intermediate datazone levels on the Children and Young People profile of the ScotPHO Online Profiling tool
• the latest statistics on numbers and percentages of low birthweight babies are available on the Scottish Official Statistics Open Data Platform 
• The SIMD 2020 Health Deprivation indicators, measuring low birthweight, are available for all Scottish Borders and Scottish Datazones on the Scottish Statistics Open Data platform
• the latest statistics on infant deaths (stillbirths, perinatal and under 1s) are available from the Scottish Official Statistics Open Data Platform 
• the latest statistics on percentage of babies being breastfed are available on the Scottish Official Statistics Open Data Platform
• statistics on babies exclusively breastfed at 6-8 weeks are available on the Children and Young People profile of the ScotPHO Online Profiling tool
• statistics on babies being exposed to second-hand smoke at the 6-8 week review are available on the Children and Young People profile of the ScotPHO Online Profiling tool

Toddlers and pre-school

• recent statistics on uptake of the 6-in-1 vaccination primary course by 24 months of age and the MMR immunisation by 5 years of age are available on the Scottish Official Statistics Open Data Platform
• statistics on the uptake of the 6-in-1 vaccine and of the MMR vaccine at 24 months are available, at Council and Intermediate Datazone levels, on the Children and Young People profile of the ScotPHO Online Profiling tool
• the latest statistics on 27-30 month developmental milestones are available from the LGBF interactive Explore tool
• statistics on developmental concerns at 27-30 months are available at council or Intermediate datazone levels on the Children and Young People profile of the ScotPHO Online Profiling tool
• statistics on unintentional injuries in under 5s are available on the Children and Young People profile of the interactive ScotPHO Online Profiles Tool

School age children - dental health

• recent statistics on percentage of P1 children with no decay experience are available on the Scottish Official Statistics Open Data Platform 
• statistics on child dental health in Primary 1 are available on the Health and Wellbeing and the Children and Young People profiles of the ScotPHO Online Profiling tool

School age children - physical health

• recent statistics on Body Mass Index (BMI) reviews of Primary 1 children in terms of the number of reviews, percentage by clinical weight class and percentage by epidemiological weight class, are available on the Scottish Official Statistics Open Data Platform 
• statistics on healthy weight in Primary 1 children are available on the Children and Young People profile of the ScotPHO Online Profiling tool
• statistics on general health in S4 pupils are available on the Children and Young People profile of the ScotPHO Online Profiling tool
• statistics on children aged 0-15 hospitalised for asthma are available on the Children and Young People profile of the ScotPHO Online Profiling tool
• statistics on uptake of the HPV vaccine in S3 girls are available at council and intermediate zone level on the Children and Young People profile of the ScotPHO Online Profiling tool

School age children - mental health and wellbeing

• statistics on mental wellbeing in S4 pupils are available on the Children and Young People profile of the ScotPHO Online Profiling tool

Children's lifestyles and physical activity

• statistics on Active Travel to school are available on the Children and Young People profile of the ScotPHO Online Profiling tool
• statistics on Active Schools Participation in Scottish Borders school clusters, up to 2018-19, are available to download.  This reporting will resume in 2023, following the Coronavirus emergency

Health and wellbeing in children and young adults

• statistics on the rate of Alcohol-related hospital admissions, of Drug-related hospital admissions, and of suicides, for males and females aged 11-25, are available on the Children and Young People profile of the ScotPHO Online Profiling tool
• statistics on young people aged 15-25 admitted to hospital due to assult are available on the Children and Young People profile of the ScotPHO Online Profiling tool
• statistics on the rate of pregnancies per 1,000 females aged 15-19 are available on the Health and Wellbeing and the Children and Young People profiles of the ScotPHO Online Profiling tool

Children and young people living with deprivation and inequality

• statistics on the number of children and young people under 25 who live in the most income-deprived quintile, the most crime-deprived quintile and the most access-deprived quintile are available at Council and Intermediate Datazone levels on the Children and Young People profile of the interactive ScotPHO Online Profiles Tool
• information on the Scottish Child Welfare Payment in the Scottis Borders is available to download
• the latest statistics on children living in poverty are available from the LGBF interactive Explore tool 
• the latest statistics on the Child Winter Heating Allowance are available from the Scottish Official Statistics Open Data Platform

Children and young people who are at risk of harm, neglect or offending

• the latest statistics on the number of looked-after children in the Scottish Borders are available from the Scottish Official Statistics Open Data Platform
• statistics on Children Looked After, Children on the Child Protection Register and Children referred to the Children's Reporter for offences or for care and protection, are available on the Children and Young People profile of the ScotPHO Online Profiling tool
• the latest statistics on looked-after children's placements and child protection registrations, are available from the LGBF interactive Explore tool 

Official Statistics are available on these topics at Scottish Borders Council/ Health Board level and sometimes below. If you work, volunteer or study in the Scottish Borders and would like help using these statistics, contact us using the contact details below.