Differential access to care for children with ADHD in special education programs.
Access to treatment for children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) was examined in the general health, specialty mental health, and informal care sectors. Special education students in a Florida school district were screened for ADHD, and high-risk children and their parents completed diagnostic and services assessment interviews. Female gender, minority status, and rural residence lowered the probability of ADHD service use in the general health sector. Use of services in the mental health and informal sectors was predicted by a child's need for services. Further study is needed to identify barriers to service use at the parental or gatekeeper level for this common disorder among children.
Bussing
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Department of Psychiatry, University of Florida, Gainesville 32610-0177, USA. regina@hpe.ufl.edu
Zima
B T
BT
Belin
T R
TR
D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000628:therapy*; D002648:Child; D002662:Child Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015897:Comorbidity; D004519:Education, Special / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005431:Florida; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008913:Minority Groups / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D020380:Needs Assessment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D019035:Rural Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012737:Sex Factors; D013223:Statistics as Topic