Socioeconomic Status and Vision Care Services in Ontario, Canada: A Population-Based Cohort Study.
J Pediatr
; 241: 212-220.e2, 2022 02.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-34687692
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE:
To test the association of material deprivation and the utilization of vision care services for young children. STUDYDESIGN:
We conducted a population-based, repeated measures cohort study using linked health and administrative datasets. All children born in Ontario in 2010 eligible for provincial health insurance were followed from birth until their seventh birthday. The main exposure was neighborhood-level material deprivation quintile, a proxy for socioeconomic status. The primary outcome was receipt of a comprehensive eye examination (not to include a vision screening) by age 7 years from an eye care professional, or family physician.RESULTS:
Of 128 091 children included, female children represented 48.7% of the cohort, 74.4% lived in major urban areas, and 16.2% lived in families receiving income assistance. Only 65% (n = 82 833) had at least 1 comprehensive eye examination, with the lowest uptake (56.9%; n = 31 911) in the most deprived and the highest uptake (70.5%; n =19 860) in the least deprived quintiles. After adjusting for clinical and demographic variables, children living in the least materially deprived quintile had a higher odds of receiving a comprehensive eye examination (aOR 1.43; 95% CI 1.36, 1.51) compared with children in the most materially deprived areas.CONCLUSIONS:
Uptake of comprehensive eye examinations is poor, especially for children living in the most materially deprived neighborhoods. Strategies to improve uptake and reduce inequities are warranted.Key words
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Social Class
/
Vision Disorders
/
Vision Tests
/
Healthcare Disparities
/
Facilities and Services Utilization
/
Health Services Accessibility
Type of study:
Etiology_studies
/
Observational_studies
/
Risk_factors_studies
Aspects:
Determinantes_sociais_saude
Limits:
Child
/
Child, preschool
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Infant
/
Male
Country/Region as subject:
America do norte
Language:
En
Journal:
J Pediatr
Year:
2022
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Canada