The characteristics of mobile families with young children in England and the impact of their moves on neighbourhood inequalities in maternal and child health

Abstract

This study compares the health and socio-demographic characteristics of residentially mobile families with young children in England to families that do not move and assesses the impact of their moves upon inequalities in health between neighbourhoods. The analysis uses data from the first two waves of the Millennium Cohort Study describing 9022 cohort members, born in 2000–2002, and their families. A third of the families moved between the waves of the survey when the children were aged nine months and three years. Mobile families moved disproportionately toward less deprived areas but had disadvantaged socio-economic characteristics and poor outcomes for infant's birth weight and accidents and mother's self-rated health, limiting longstanding illness and mental health. Health outcomes were worst among the minority moving to more deprived neighbourhoods. Families' moves moderately increased health inequalities between neighbourhoods with high and low deprivation.