The effects of family structure and regular places of care on preventive health care for children.

Data from the 1982 National Access to Medical Care Survey were examined to answer questions on preventive health care received by children in families with one or two working parents and possible differences among their various regular sources of care. Evidence supports the general and expected conclusion that children of single female workers are most at risk. Children from these non-traditional families appeared to benefit most from care given in the offices and clinics of private physicians, while those of such families enrolled in health maintenance organizations benefitted least. When compared with HMO enrollees from the other two types of families (those where men were working and women stayed home, or where both parents worked), children of single parents were least likely to have received tine tests or DPT inoculations. Finding implications are discussed with suggestions for further research including investigating the effects of modifying hours of service and the provision of institutional supports for working parents.