Unmet Health Care Needs Stratified by Socioeconomic Status: Results of the National Survey of Children with Special Health Care Needs

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2006-12-01

Authors

Fulda, Kimberly G.

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Fulda, Kimberly G., Unmet Health Care Needs Stratified by Socioeconomic Status: Results of the National Survey of Children with Special Health Care Needs. Doctor of Public Health (Clinical Research), December 2006, 200 pp., 15 tables, 4 figures, references, 73 titles. The purpose of this research study was to identify factors that affect unmet health care needs for children with special health care needs (CSHCN) and to identify how these factors vary by socioeconomic status. Data were obtained from an already existing publicly available database from the National Survey of Children with Special Health Care Needs, 2000-2002, available through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Approximately 750 CSHCN from each of the 50 states and the District of Columbia were included. Survey data represented parent responses on health care and health care needs for CSHCN. Responses for 38,866 CSHCN up to 17 years of age were included in the analysis. Four hypotheses were tested: having received all needed routine, preventive care; having received all needed care from a specialist; having received all needed mental health care or counseling; and having received comprehensive, coordinated care in a medical home. Within each of the four hypotheses, four models were presented for socioeconomic status (SES): [less than] 133% of the federal poverty level (FPL); 133-199% of the FPL, 200-299$ of the FPL, and ≥ 300% of the FPL. Age, severity of the CSHCN’s condition, sex, race, ethnicity, maternal education, insurance status / type, geographical region of the household, relationship of the respondent to the CSHCN, the total number of adults in the household, and the total number of kids in the household were all significant predictors of having received all needed care in at least one SES stratum for the four hypotheses. Analyses revealed there are disparities among SES strata for unmet health care needs for CSHCN.

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