Diapers at the Doctor: Addressing Diaper Need in a Pediatric Clinic

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Health Services Research
• Pediatric Health

Background:

• Diaper need, defined as a lack of sufficient diapers to maintain a baby's hygiene, affects a significant portion of low-income families.
• Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) are critical access points for vulnerable populations, yet often lack resources to address social determinants of health like diaper insecurity.
• Existing community resources, such as diaper banks, may be insufficient or inaccessible in certain geographic areas.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the implementation and initial outcomes of a clinic-based diaper distribution program at an FQHC.
• To address the identified gap in diaper access for patients facing financial barriers.
• To provide a model for other healthcare settings seeking to mitigate diaper need.

Main Methods:

• A needs assessment was conducted at an FQHC in the Bay Area to quantify diaper need and identify barriers.
• A clinic-based diaper distribution program was designed and implemented in response to the needs assessment findings.
• Program data on patient reach and diaper distribution were collected.

Main Results:

• The needs assessment revealed that over 40% of patients experienced diaper need.
• Cost was identified as the primary barrier to obtaining adequate diapers.
• The clinic-based program successfully began distributing diapers to address this unmet need.

Conclusions:

• Diaper need is a prevalent issue among FQHC patients, significantly impacted by cost.
• Clinic-based diaper distribution programs can effectively bridge the gap in access for families facing financial hardship.
• Healthcare providers and FQHCs can play a vital role in addressing social determinants of health, including diaper insecurity.