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Health problems of homeless children in New York City
G Alperstein1, C Rappaport, J M Flanigan
1Pediatric Service, St. Luke's Roosevelt Hospital Center, New York City 10019.
Insights
Homeless children under 5 in New York City experienced more health issues, including delayed immunizations and higher hospital admission rates, compared to low socioeconomic status peers. This highlights critical health disparities in vulnerable pediatric populations.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Public Health
- Socioeconomic Determinants of Health
Background:
- Homelessness in children is a significant public health concern.
- Children experiencing homelessness face numerous barriers to accessing healthcare.
- Socioeconomic status profoundly impacts child health outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the health status of homeless children with a low socioeconomic status (SES) comparison group.
- To identify specific health problems prevalent in homeless pediatric populations.
- To inform interventions addressing health disparities in vulnerable children.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of outpatient medical records.
- Study population: 265 homeless children under 5 years of age in New York City.
- Comparison group: Children of similar low SES attending the same clinic.
Main Results:
- Homeless children exhibited higher frequencies of delayed immunizations.
- Elevated blood lead levels were more common in the homeless group.
- Increased rates of hospital admission and child abuse/neglect reports were observed in homeless children.
Conclusions:
- Homeless children under 5 face significant health disadvantages compared to their low SES peers.
- Urgent interventions are needed to address the health and safety of homeless children.
- Pediatric healthcare settings should screen for and address risks associated with homelessness.
Abstract:
We reviewed the outpatient medical records of 265 homeless children less than 5 years of age in New York City and compared them with children of similar low socioeconomic status (SES) attending the same pediatric clinic. The frequency of health problems among the homeless children, including delayed immunizations, elevated blood lead levels, the rate of admission to hospital, and the rate of child abuse and neglect reports, exceeded those for the comparison groups.