Health needs of Australian children living in out-of-home care.
BACKGROUND
Children living in out-of-home care have high and frequently unidentified health needs. The Child Protection Unit at Sydney Children's Hospital offers comprehensive health screening to children in care.


OBJECTIVE
To report the experience of the health screening clinic and the rates of identified health problems of children in care in this sample, and to compare these rates with the general child population and children in care overseas.


METHODS
Comprehensive multidisciplinary health screens were offered to children in out-of-home care.


RESULTS
High rates of physical, developmental and emotional health problems were identified. The rates of poor health were greater than the average child population of New South Wales, but similar to the rates of poor health reported in children in care overseas.


CONCLUSIONS
Children in care are a vulnerable group of the child population who experience unacceptable levels of poor health. Comprehensive health screens can help identify previously undetected health problems.
Nathanson
Dania
D
Child Protection Unit, Sydney Children's Hospital, High Street, Randwick, New South Wales 2031, Australia.
Tzioumi
Dimitra
D
D002648:Child; D002662:Child Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002669:Child Welfare / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009517:New South Wales; D014505:Urban Population