OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the relationship of family moves to children's health care use. DESIGN: Analyses of data from the 1988 National Health Interview Survey of Child Health (NHIS-CH). This survey uses a multisite probability cluster technique to achieve nationally representative estimates of health and demographic characteristics of the US civilian population. PARTICIPANTS: 17,110 US children and their families who took part in the 1988 NHIS-CH. MEASUREMENTS: The 1988 NHIS-CH collected health and demographic data including family mobility information on 17,110 US children and their families. This study analyzed the relationship of number of family moves to reporting a regular site for preventive pediatric health care services, a regular site for pediatric sick care, and routine use of emergency departments when a child was sick. RESULTS: Overall, 8% of US children were reported to lack a regular site for preventive care services, 7% a site for sick care, and 3% routinely used an emergency department for sick care. However, 14% of children who had moved three or more times lacked a regular site for preventive care and 10% lacked a regular site for sick care, compared to only 3% of children who had never moved. Children who had moved more than twice were three times as likely to lack a regular site for preventive or sick care and 1.6 times as likely to use an emergency department for sick care, as were children who had never moved. CONCLUSIONS: Families with increased mobility are more likely to lack a regular site for both preventive and sick care and to use emergency departments when their children become ill.
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the relationship of family moves to children's health care use. DESIGN: Analyses of data from the 1988 National Health Interview Survey of Child Health (NHIS-CH). This survey uses a multisite probability cluster technique to achieve nationally representative estimates of health and demographic characteristics of the US civilian population. PARTICIPANTS: 17,110 US children and their families who took part in the 1988 NHIS-CH. MEASUREMENTS: The 1988 NHIS-CH collected health and demographic data including family mobility information on 17,110 US children and their families. This study analyzed the relationship of number of family moves to reporting a regular site for preventive pediatric health care services, a regular site for pediatric sick care, and routine use of emergency departments when a child was sick. RESULTS: Overall, 8% of US children were reported to lack a regular site for preventive care services, 7% a site for sick care, and 3% routinely used an emergency department for sick care. However, 14% of children who had moved three or more times lacked a regular site for preventive care and 10% lacked a regular site for sick care, compared to only 3% of children who had never moved. Children who had moved more than twice were three times as likely to lack a regular site for preventive or sick care and 1.6 times as likely to use an emergency department for sick care, as were children who had never moved. CONCLUSIONS: Families with increased mobility are more likely to lack a regular site for both preventive and sick care and to use emergency departments when their children become ill.
Authors: Diana Becker Cutts; Alan F Meyers; Maureen M Black; Patrick H Casey; Mariana Chilton; John T Cook; Joni Geppert; Stephanie Ettinger de Cuba; Timothy Heeren; Sharon Coleman; Ruth Rose-Jacobs; Deborah A Frank Journal: Am J Public Health Date: 2011-06-16 Impact factor: 9.308
Authors: Frances B Saadeh; Melissa A Clark; Michelle L Rogers; Crystal D Linkletter; Maureen G Phipps; James F Padbury; Patrick M Vivier Journal: Matern Child Health J Date: 2013-02