UK Early Life Cohort Feasibility Study: Age 9-10 months Sweep, 2023-2024

<p>The overarching aim of the <span style="font-style: italic;">Early Life Cohort Feasibility Study</span> (ELC-FS) was to explore the feasibility of a new birth cohort study in the UK that would paint a nationally representative picture of the circumstances and lives of a new cohort of babies born at a critical time in the UK's history, and to understand how inequalities in early child development are changing over time.</p>
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<p>ELC-FS was based on a sample of babies born in England, Wales and Scotland in November-December 2022 and in Northern Ireland in June-July 2023. In England, Wales and Scotland, samples were drawn from birth registration data that was matched with maternity records; samples were provided by NHS England, National Records Scotland and Public Health Scotland. In Northern Ireland, samples were drawn from maternity records only, provided by the Business Services Organisation on behalf of Health Trusts. The sampling design comprised over-sampling at national level in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, and in England, a boost of Black Caribbean, Black African, Pakistani and Bangladeshi babies and a boost of families living in low-income areas.</p>
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<p>Interviews were mainly conducted in-person, with telephone, Teams, and web options, with up to two parents in up to two households for each birth. Main fieldwork was conducted September 2023-February 2024 in England and Wales, late November 2023-April 2024 in Scotland, and April-July 2024 in Northern Ireland. Once the main fieldwork stage was complete, those who had not participated were invited to complete a shorter version of the questionnaire via web (online follow-up survey).</p>
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<p>The study recruited 1,933 families in the UK: 1,015 families in England, 279 families in Wales, 319 families in Scotland and 320 families in Northern Ireland. The study aimed to recruit families during their babies' first year of life; most babies were between 9-12 months.<br><br>A Secure Access version of the data are available under SN 9450, containing detailed sensitive variables not available under Safeguarded access. Further information is available in section 5.14 of the User Guide.</p>