title: Demographics of Military dependent children and adolescents: projected patient population shift.
abstract: The United States government provides health care for one of the largest beneficiary populations in the world. Approximately 796,500 (35%) of the 2.27 million dependent children of uniformed services personnel are adolescents (13 to 19 years old). Although the majority of dependent children are dependents of active duty personnel (74.7%), close to half of the adolescents (47.7%) are dependents of retired personnel. Recent geopolitical world changes and a perceived decreased threat to national security have led to a planned 25% reduction of the active duty force by 1996. The mean age of children beneficiaries will rise as a result. Pediatricians in the military and civilian contract physicians need to prepare for increased health care of older pediatric patients, particularly adolescents.
authors.affiliation: Adolescent Medicine Program, William Beaumont Army Medical Center, El Paso, TX 79920-5001.
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Rupp
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schydlower
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003695:Delivery of Health Care; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D010372:Pediatrics; D014481:United States