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Provider recognition of psychosocial problems in low-income Latino children

Thomas P Tarshis1, Douglas P Jutte, Lynne C Huffman

  • 1Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, USA. ttarshis@stanford.edu

Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved
|May 17, 2006
PubMed

Insights

Primary care providers identified psychosocial problems in nearly 40% of low-SES Latino children. However, they frequently missed symptoms of anxiety and depression, highlighting a need for improved mental health detection in this population.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Child Psychology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Psychosocial problems are prevalent in children, particularly those from low-socioeconomic status (SES) backgrounds.
  • Early identification and intervention are crucial for addressing mental health concerns in children.
  • Latino children may face unique challenges and have specific mental health needs.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the frequency of psychosocial problem identification in Latino children by primary care providers (PCPs).
  • To assess the accuracy of PCP identification of specific psychosocial issues compared to parent-reported data.

Main Methods:

  • A cross-sectional study involving 269 low-SES Latino children (ages 2-16) receiving well-child care.
  • Primary care providers used the World Health Organization checklist to assess psychosocial problems.
  • Parent-completed child-behavior checklists served as a benchmark for clinically significant symptoms.

Main Results:

  • Primary care providers identified at least one psychosocial problem in 39.8% of the children.
  • PCPs identified only 20% of children with significant aggression symptoms and 18% with attention/hyperactivity symptoms.
  • No children with clinically significant anxiety/depression symptoms were identified by PCPs.

Conclusions:

  • While PCPs identify a substantial number of psychosocial problems, they miss a significant proportion of mental health difficulties, especially anxiety and depression, in low-SES Latino children.
  • There is a critical need to enhance the detection of mental health concerns, particularly anxiety and depression, in this vulnerable pediatric population.
  • Improved screening and diagnostic tools are necessary for PCPs to effectively address the mental health needs of Latino children.

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