title: Health and educational status of children raised by a caregiver with a disability.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Research on children raised by adults with disability is limited. Our goal was to provide a profile of the health and educational status of children raised by a caregiver with disability.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 2007-2008, 4571 adults completed the North Carolina Behavior Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) and Child Health Assessment Monitoring Program (CHAMP) surveys. Analyses using weighted data provided population-based health/educational status comparisons of children (0 to 17 years old) raised by caregivers with and without disability.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-three percent of caregivers reported disability. Rates of insurance coverage and preventive care did not differ by caregiver disability status, although children of caregivers with disability were more likely to have publicly funded insurance. The majority of children of caregivers with disability were in excellent/very good health (70%), healthy weight (58%), and making above-average grades (74%). Nonetheless, children raised by caregivers with disability appear to be at disproportionately higher risk for overall poorer outcomes. Children raised by caregivers with disability were more likely to be in fair/poor health (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 2.2; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.3 to 3.6), overweight/obese (aOR = 1.5, 95% CI 1.1-2.0), need medical/educational services (aOR = 2.0, 95% CI 1.5-2.6), have lower grades (aOR = 1.9, 95% CI 1.4-2.5), and higher rates of school absenteeism (aOR = 2.4, 95% CI 1.8-3.4), compared to children of caregivers without disability.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Children raised by a caregiver with disability show good overall wellness; however, caregiver disability status was found to be associated with an increased risk for poor child health and educational outcomes. Future research is needed to clarify the causes of these disparities and inform policies to alleviate them.
authors: State Center for Health Statistics, Division of Public Health, North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Raleigh, NC 27699-2422, USA. donna.r.miles@dhhs.nc.gov
authors: Donna R
authors: DR
authors: Miles
authors: Michael J
authors: MJ
authors: Steiner
authors: Karen J
authors: KJ
authors: Luken
authors: Michael R
authors: MR
authors: Sanderson
authors: Tamera
authors: T
authors: Coyne-Beasley
authors: Harry
authors: H
authors: Herrick
authors: Elizabeth
authors: E
authors: Mizelle
authors: Carol A
authors: CA
authors: Ford
mesh_terms: D000041:Absenteeism; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001835:Body Weight; D017028:Caregivers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006296:Health Services; D006304:Health Status; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007348:Insurance, Health; D008297:Male; D009657:North Carolina; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology; D016017:Odds Ratio; D016487:Parenting; D010290:Parents; D012307:Risk Factors