Health surveyA health survey carried out in one of the most economically disadvantaged areas of Dublin is to form the basis of a health promotion action plan currently being drawn up by representatives from local groups and the Northern Area Health Board.
The household survey, carried out in the Darndale and Belcamp areas of north Dublin, highlighted a number of issues that the action plan will try to tackle.
The senior health promotion officer with the health board, Jo O'Rourke, said that crucial to the success of the action plan was the partnership element which would see local people centrally involved in drawing it up.
A total of 314 households participated in the survey, which was carried out by two doctors, and data were collected on 1,364 individuals.
Some 16.5 per cent of the respondents said they were unemployed. Very high levels of smoking were found.
Some 56 per cent of those aged over 18 were smokers and more than half of these were interested in quitting.
Asthma was identified as a problem, with some 11 per cent of respondents affected.
It was also found that there were low levels of physical activity - 45 per cent fitted into this category.
High levels of TV viewing were also reported - on average children spent three hours a day watching TV.
In relation to women's health it was found that quite a low level - 43 per cent - had received any family planning advice.
Another area of concern was the high level of childhood accidents - 18 per cent of children had had an accident that required medical attention in the previous year.
The largest category within these was falls, at 49 per cent.
The survey's authors point out that this level of childhood accidents is similar to national figures but these are accepted as high and need to be addressed.
A total of 89 per cent of under-fives had received primary immunisations.
Of concern to health service providers was the finding that 43 per cent said they knew very little about services that were available.
A working group charged with drawing up the action plan has now been formed.
Ms O'Rourke said the involvement of local people would help ensure that in future services would be provided in a way to maximise their uptake.
"It is a highly disadvantaged area and they are starting from a very low plane, but one of the most important aspects of this is empowering the community so they feel they can do something themselves.
"The residents have strongly welcomed this and both communities certainly want to change the profile of their area," said Ms O'Rourke.