Rural-urban differences in access to care among children and adolescents in the United States.
J Rural Health
; 40(1): 200-207, 2024 Jan.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-37217438
ABSTRACT
PURPOSE:
Rural children and adolescents face disproportionate challenges in access to health care services than their urban counterparts. Yet, recent evidence on disparities in access to health care between rural and urban children and adolescents has been limited. This study examines the associations of residence location with receipt of preventive care, foregone medical care, and continuity of insurance coverage among US children and adolescents.METHODS:
This study used cross-sectional data from the 2019 to 2020 National Survey of Children's Health, with a final sample size of 44,679 children. Descriptive statistics, bivariate analyses, and multivariable logistic regression models were used to examine the differences in preventive care, foregone care, and continuity of insurance coverage between rural and urban children and adolescents.FINDINGS:
Rural children had lower odds of receiving preventive care (aOR 0.64; 95% CI 0.56-0.74) and having continuous health insurance coverage (aOR 0.68; 95% CI 0.56-0.83) compared to urban children. The odds of foregone care were similar between rural and urban children. Children at every federal poverty level (FPL) less than 400% were less likely to receive preventive care, and more likely to forego care than children residing at 400% or above FPL.CONCLUSIONS:
Rural disparities in child preventive care and insurance continuity warrant ongoing surveillance and local access to care initiatives, especially for children in low-income households. Without updated public health surveillance, policymakers and program developers may not be aware of current disparities. School-based health centers are 1 avenue for meeting the unmet health care needs of rural children.Key words
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Child Health Services
/
Health Services Accessibility
Type of study:
Prognostic_studies
Limits:
Adolescent
/
Child
/
Humans
Country/Region as subject:
America do norte
Language:
En
Journal:
J Rural Health
Journal subject:
ENFERMAGEM
/
SAUDE PUBLICA
Year:
2024
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
United States
Publication country:
ENGLAND
/
ESCOCIA
/
GB
/
GREAT BRITAIN
/
INGLATERRA
/
REINO UNIDO
/
SCOTLAND
/
UK
/
UNITED KINGDOM