The baby boxes given out to parents-to-be in Scotland contain goods worth around £160. Hailed by Nicola Sturgeon as one of her «proudest achievements», the Scots failed to improve the health of babies, a study found.
Researchers from the University of Glasgow found claims that giving a baby worth about £160 to future parents sterling products in a box that can be used as a makeshift crib did not save lives, as SNP ministers claimed.
Instead, they found «no evidence of change» in hospitalization of infants or their mothers or «sleep position of infants» that may be a factor in crib mortality following the introduction of the SNP's flagship policy.
So far, the SNP government has spent £90 million for this initiative over the past six years. When it was launched, Ms Sturgeon said it would «reduce infant mortality and improve children's health.»
After she announced she was leaving her post, she called baby boxing one of the policies , which she was most proud of, and stated that this means that «every child in Scotland literally has the same beginning.»
However, analysis of the data before and after the policy was launched showed that it had no effect on health outcomes.
“The SNP constantly brandishes this scheme as if it were a big achievement, ignoring the main points for Scotland. The NHS and local services for mothers,” said Megan Gallagher, deputy leader of the Scottish Conservatives.
“This is a help for new mothers, but as this study shows, it did not affect child mortality and did not provide long-term care for the most vulnerable.»
The boxes contain clothes for newborns, as well as items such as a thermometer, children's books and a toothbrush. They are intended to be used as a makeshift crib with a mattress, sheet and blanket.
The policy was copied from Finland, where it was introduced in the 1930s and was seen as one of several measures. this helped to drastically reduce the high infant mortality rate in what was then a poor country.
However, it was introduced by the SNP in Scotland without any evidence to support claims that adopting a 90 year old policy would bring health benefits in 21st century Scotland.
Nevertheless Ms Sturgeon said the initiative would save babies' lives, while Angus Robertson, now a senior SNP cabinet minister, also said baby boxes would «reduce infant mortality.»
Nicola Sturgeon, former First Minister. Photo: PA/Andrew Cowan
The Scottish Government has repeatedly stated that improving child health and reducing infant mortality is a 'mainstream' policy that is accessible regardless of income.
However, Naomi Eisenstadt, personal Ms Sturgeon's adviser at the time, called it a «gimmick» and warned that it would do little to address inequality or improve children's health.
Ms Eisenstaedt's fears appear to be confirmed by a Glasgow study published in The Lancet and partly funded by the Scottish High Office and the National Archives of Scotland.
«There was no evidence of a change in infant hospitalization and mothers for any reason or in the position of babies in sleep, ”says the research paper. He added that he was unable to include infant mortality as an outcome due to the low number of cases.
The authors examined 182,122 births in Scotland in the two years on either side of the scheme's launch. Lynsey Kidd, chief executive of the Scottish Cot Death Trust, said the study «provides an opportunity to reflect and reconsider.» life-saving claims, instead presenting the baby box as a symbol of equality.
A Scottish government spokesman said: «Every child born in Scotland should have the best start in life and baby boxing has a number of essentials. to ensure that both child and parent can be supported.”
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