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The physical health of children in kinship care
H Dubowitz1, S Feigelman, S Zuravin
1Department of Pediatrics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore 21201.
Insights
Children in kinship care experience significant health issues, including vision, hearing, obesity, dental problems, and asthma, often unidentified or untreated. The primary healthcare system for these children appears inadequate, necessitating improvements and further research.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Public Health
- Child Welfare
Background:
- Kinship care, where relatives care for children, is a common arrangement for children placed by public agencies.
- Children in kinship care represent a vulnerable population with unique health needs.
- Assessing the health status and primary care adequacy for children in kinship care is crucial for intervention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the current and chronic health conditions of children in kinship care.
- To determine the adequacy of primary health care services received by these children.
- To identify areas for improvement in the healthcare system for children in kinship care.
Main Methods:
- A population survey was conducted involving children in kinship care in Baltimore, Maryland.
- Data collection included medical record reviews, questionnaires for caregivers and physicians, and clinical assessments by a nurse, pediatrician, and child psychologist.
- Four hundred seven children (78% of the eligible population) participated in the study.
Main Results:
- Children in kinship care exhibited health problems comparable to those in foster care and low-income children, but more prevalent than in the general American child population.
- Common diagnoses included impaired visual acuity and hearing, obesity, dental caries, and asthma.
- Many of these health issues were previously unidentified or untreated, indicating potential gaps in care.
Conclusions:
- There is a clear need to enhance the healthcare system for children in kinship care.
- The current system appears inadequate in ensuring comprehensive health services for this population.
- Further research is recommended to better understand and address the health needs of this high-risk group.
Objective:
The objectives of this study were to assess the current and chronic health problems and the adequacy of primary health care of children placed with a relative (kinship care) by a public agency.
Research Design:
Population survey.
Setting:
Children in kinship care in Baltimore, Md.
Participants:
Four hundred seven (78%) of 524 children in kinship care in 1989.
Interventions:
None.
Measurements/Main Results:
Information on the child's health status and care was obtained via a review of medical records; questionnaires sent to primary care physicians, parents, care givers, and caseworkers; and clinical assessment of the child by a nurse, pediatrician, and child psychologist. The children were found to have health problems similar to those in foster and poor children, but more problems than American children in general. Frequent diagnoses included impaired visual acuity and hearing, obesity, dental caries, and asthma; often, these problems had not been identified or treated. Gaps in the medical records precluded firm conclusions concerning the children's primary care, but suggest an inadequate system for ensuring their health care.
Conclusions:
There is a need for improving the system of health care for children in kinship care. There is also a need for additional research on this high-risk group of children.