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Morbidity and use of ambulatory care services among poor and nonpoor children
1Institute for Health Policy Studies, University of California, San Francisco 94143.
Insights
Low-income children experience more disability days and fewer physician visits for health issues compared to higher-income peers, despite similar illness prevalence. This highlights socioeconomic disparities in child health outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Health
- Health Services Research
- Socioeconomic Determinants of Health
Background:
- Childhood illness and healthcare access are influenced by socioeconomic factors.
- Previous research indicates potential disparities in health outcomes based on family income.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare illness prevalence, disability, and physician service utilization among children across different family income levels.
- To investigate the impact of multiple health conditions on disability and healthcare use by socioeconomic status.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of data from the Child Health Supplement to the 1981 National Health Interview Survey.
- Comparison of children under 18 years old across three family income groups.
- Examination of illness prevalence, bed days (disability), and physician visits.
Main Results:
- Annual prevalence of many health problems showed minimal differences by income.
- Disability, measured by bed days, was significantly greater for low-income children.
- Low-income children with health problems utilized fewer physician visits on an adjusted basis compared to higher-income children.
Conclusions:
- Socioeconomic status significantly impacts childhood disability and healthcare access, particularly for children with multiple health conditions.
- Despite similar illness rates, low-income children face greater burdens of disability and reduced access to physician services.
- Addressing income-related disparities is crucial for improving child health outcomes and equitable healthcare utilization.
Abstract:
Using data from the Child Health Supplement to the 1981 National Health Interview Survey, illness and use of physician services are compared for children under 18 years old in three family income groups. The results indicate that although annual prevalence of many health problems does not differ greatly by income level, disability as measured by bed days is greater among low income children. A substantial minority of children from all socioeconomic levels are afflicted by multiple health problems. The impact of multiple conditions, as measured by days spent ill in bed, appears much greater for children from low income families. Use of physician services was found to be similar for children of all socioeconomic levels when no significant health problems were present, but low income children with health problems used fewer physician visits on an adjusted basis than their higher income counterparts.