An analysis of the association between parental acculturation and children's medication use.
OBJECTIVE
We examined how Hispanic children, with stratification according to language to approximate acculturation, differed with respect to sociodemographic characteristics and medication use. We also examined how different factors were associated with the use of different classes of prescription medications.


METHODS
We used data from the 2004 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey linked to the National Health Interview Survey. Independent variables were grouped as predisposing characteristics, enabling factors, perceived need, and evaluated need. Multivariate logistic regression was used to assess the impact of independent variables on the outcomes of overall and specific types of medication use.


RESULTS
Hispanic, Spanish-interviewed children were less likely to have a usual source of care than were Hispanic, English-interviewed subjects. Both groups had lower odds of using any prescription medication, compared with white children, which was explained largely by having a usual source of care. The lower use of psychiatric medications in the Spanish-interviewed group was not explained by the independent variables, whereas the difference in the use of antibiotics was.


CONCLUSIONS
There are differences between Hispanic children according to acculturation, and acculturation affects prescription medication use. These findings may be used to address more specifically the needs of Hispanic children, particularly mental health needs.
Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA. bafoster2@hotmail.com
Byron Alexander
BA
Foster
Debra
D
Read
Christina
C
Bethell
D000069:Acculturation; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003144:Communication Barriers; D011307:Drug Prescriptions / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D054625:Healthcare Disparities; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D016015:Logistic Models; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D020380:Needs Assessment; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014481:United States; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations