Distressed neighborhoods and child disability rates: analyses of 157,000 school-age children.
The aim of this study was to assess rates of childhood disability as indicated by functional limitation of motor, sensory, or self-care skills in children living in severely-distressed neighborhoods. For a neighborhood in the US Census Track to be considered severely distressed, three of the following four characteristics need to be present: >27% of children live in poverty, >23% high school drop-out rate, >34% male unemployment rate, and >37% of households headed by females alone. In the 2000 US Census, 157 000 children between ages 5 and 15 years resided in the State of Rhode Island. Severely-distressed neighborhoods were found in 12.6% of Rhode Island Census Tracks. These areas accounted for 14.5% of the school-age population, 25% of children with motor disabilities, 29% of children with self-care disabilities, and 14% of children with sensory disabilities. For each increasing level of neighborhood distress, rates of child disability increased. Child disability rates in moderately distressed neighborhoods were 3.7%, compared with 1.1% in advantaged neighborhoods. Children in distressed neighborhoods had disproportionately high rates of disability, especially in motor and self-care functioning. Comprehensive interventions aimed at children in distressed neighborhoods are crucial to reduce health disparities for vulnerable children.
Msall
Michael E
ME
Comer and LaRabida Children's Hospitals, Chicago, Illinois, USA. mmsall@peds.bsd.uchicago.edu
Avery
Roger C
RC
Msall
Emily R
ER
Hogan
Dennis P
DP
D002648:Child; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D019988:Children with Disabilities; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods; D019957:Motor Skills Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012237:Rhode Island / Q000453:epidemiology; D012648:Self Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012678:Sensation Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012931:Social Environment