title: Children of farm laborers: utilization of services for mental health problems.
abstract: Utilization of various types of services for children's mental health problems was examined among 112 agricultural farm worker families. Pairs of mothers and children (aged 8 to 11) were interviewed using the Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children and the Child and Adolescent Services Assessment. Sixty-four percent of the children met criterion for one or more psychiatric diagnoses. Children with a psychiatric diagnosis were five times more likely to see a health professional for a mental health problem compared to children without a psychiatric diagnosis However, less than half of the children with a psychiatric diagnosis saw a health professional for their mental health problems. Families also consulted with school professionals, religious leaders, and non-professionals (such as friends) concerning their children's mental health, but families of children who had a psychiatric diagnosis were not significantly more likely to report these types of consultations than were families of children who did not have a psychiatric diagnosis. These findings are discussed in terms of recommendations for improving the mental health service delivery system for rural children.
authors.affiliation: Department of Maternal and Child Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill 27599-7400, USA.
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Kupersmidt
authors.forename: K S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Harter
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000382:Agricultural Workers' Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002648:Child; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003156:Community Mental Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D009657:North Carolina / Q000453:epidemiology; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010552:Personality Assessment; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014171:Transients and Migrants / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014600:Utilization Review