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Preventive care use by school-aged children: differences by socioeconomic status
1Institute for Health Policy Studies, University of California, San Francisco 94143.
Pediatrics
|September 1, 1988
Summary
Children from low-income families, particularly those without Medicaid, receive less preventive care. Medicaid coverage significantly improves access to timely, routine check-ups for poor school-aged children.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Health Services Research
- Public Health
Background:
- Ambulatory care utilization by low-income children has risen since the 1960s.
- Disaggregation of physician visits by type (preventive, diagnostic, treatment) is infrequent.
- Understanding preventive care access is crucial for child health equity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine receipt of preventive care services among children aged 5-16.
- To identify disparities in timely preventive care based on family income and insurance status.
- To inform strategies for improving access to essential child healthcare.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of a large national dataset (16,838 children).
- Utilized data from the 1982 National Health Interview Survey.
- Examined preventive care receipt (physical, vision, dental exams).
Main Results:
- Children in families below the poverty level are less likely to receive timely preventive care.
- Lack of Medicaid insurance is associated with significantly lower receipt of routine preventive care.
- Medicaid-enrolled children from low-income families show higher rates of timely preventive care compared to uninsured peers.
Conclusions:
- Significant disparities exist in access to preventive healthcare for low-income children.
- Medicaid plays a vital role in facilitating timely preventive care for vulnerable populations.
- Policy interventions are needed to enhance equitable access to routine preventive services for all children.