Report: Public Health Wales – Adverse Childhood Experiences report
A new report says those in Wales who suffered four or more adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are more than twice as likely to be diagnosed with a chronic disease in later life compared to adults that have experienced none.
Adults up to the age of 69 years that experienced four or more ACEs are four times more likely to develop Type 2 diabetes, three times more likely to develop heart disease and three times more likely to develop respiratory disease, compared to individuals that report no ACEs.
Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are traumatic experiences that occur before the age of 18. These experiences range from verbal, mental and physical abuse, to being exposed to alcoholism, drug use and domestic violence at home.
The report also found that over a 12-month period, those with four or more ACEs were three times more likely to have attended Accident and Emergency units, three times more likely to have stayed overnight in hospital, and twice as likely to have visited their GP, compared to individuals with no ACEs. This reflects an increase in health needs within this population.
Lead report author, Professor Mark Bellis, Director of Policy, Research and International Development at Public Health Wales said: “Our research to date has already shown how ACEs increase the uptake of health harming behaviours such as smoking and drug use as well as reducing mental well-being in adults across Wales.
“This latest report shows how experiencing abuse and other problems in childhood are linked with increased levels of chronic disease in adulthood and much greater use of health care. What happens to us as children can make our bodies develop differently, leaving them more vulnerable to conditions like Type 2 diabetes and heart disease in later life.
“Early, effective action to prevent ACEs will help relieve ever increasing pressures on the National Health Service from an ageing population who may develop cancer, Type 2 diabetes and other diseases earlier in life because of what happened to them as children.”
Emphasising the importance of a healthy start for all aspects of a child’s life, Professor Bellis continues: “Finding solutions to the harms children suffer and the problems adults face because of their childhood experiences needs a new life course approach to health.
“This cannot be achieved by the NHS alone. That is why we are working with our key partners, including the Welsh Government, police, local authorities, charitable and voluntary sector organisations, to develop a joined-up approach to prevent ACEs and support adults whose health is suffering because of childhood trauma,” he concludes.
Wales’ Future Generations Commissioner, Sophie Howe underlines the importance of sustained investment in children and young people. She said: “Here in Wales, the Well-being of Future Generations Act is changing the way public services are working together. Health, housing, criminal justice and education networks are now collaborating and working together, not just because it’s now a legal requirement but because they understand the vital part they play in early years’ development and providing a safe and nurturing childhood.
“One of the key functions of my role is to support public bodies in making a shift towards prevention. New evidence from Public Health Wales emphasises the importance of focusing on early years and reducing the number of children living in families where there is domestic abuse, mental health problems, substance misuse or other forms of abuse or neglect, because if we don’t tackle this we are storing up long term health and social problems for these children and our public services further down the line.”
The results from this survey reflect international research and highlight the importance of ACEs and their association with poor physical and mental health and chronic disease in Wales.
