The ETSEA study (the ESPRiT* Twins at School Entry Age) is a follow up to a unique and important study into child health and well-being in Ireland. It is being carried out by researchers in the School of Public Health, Physiotherapy and Population Science in University College Dublin.
The ESPRiT study involved eight major maternity hospitals across the island of Ireland, and collected extensive data on the antenatal and perinatal growth and health of a cohort of twins born between 2007 and 2009. The ETSEA study will follow the progress of these twins and will take place over two years.
In the ETSEA study, we will be exploring the day-to-day life of the ESPRiT twins as they turn five years of age and start their first year of formal schooling. We will be assessing the twins’ health, level of activity, how they get on with other children and adults, and their home and school environment.
This study is one of the first twin studies that has prospectively measured prenatal development and then followed up with assessments of early childhood development and environment. This design will allow us to explore the role of the postnatal environment in the association between children’s prenatal and postnatal development.
Identifying factors that can influence development at this early age is particularly important as previous studies have shown a possible link between development of individuals at age 5 and their health status when fully grown.
It is hoped that findings from this study will influence children’s healthcare in the future.
To find out more about the ETSEA study, contact the ETSEA study team in University College Dublin as follows:
Call us in UCD on 01 716 3487,
Call or text us on 085 1556936, or
Email us at (opens in a new window)etsea@ucd.ie