Use of home-based records for children in the countries of the WHO European Region (2020)

A home-based record (HBR) system has long been promoted by WHO as an effective tool for child health. The record contents, design and operation are unique to each individual country. This report compares the contents and processes for HBR use in all countries of the WHO European Region, drawing on a study by the Models of Child Health Appraised (MOCHA) project for European Union (EU) and European Economic Area (EEA) countries and matched work by the European Paediatric Association/Union of National European Paediatric Societies and Associations (EPA/UNEPSA) Working Group on Social Paediatrics and Public Health for the other countries. As of 2019, 22 of the 28 EU countries had HBRs in use, one of two EEA countries, and 14 of the other 23 countries. The study reports for each of these 37 countries the means of issue, age range of children covered and health topics included, together with comment on scope for parental input. Estimates are given of the extent of usage. Finally, the recent literature on HBR use is summarized.