Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health
Volume 10, Issue 2, 2008, Pages 155-165

Parental nativity affects children's health and access to care (Article)

Weathers A.C.* , Novak S.P. , Sastry N. , Norton E.C.
  • a Department of Maternal and Child Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, School of Public Health, 427 Rosenau Hall, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7445, United States
  • b Division of Health Social and Economic Research, Research Triangle Institute, Research Triangle Park, NC, United States
  • c Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
  • d Department of Health Policy and Administration, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 427 Rosenau Hall, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7445, United States

Abstract

Objective: To examine the effect of parental nativity on child health and access to health care. Data Source: The 2002 National Survey of America's Families. Results: Among US children, 14% have foreign-born parents; 5% have one foreign- and one native-born parent ("mixed-nativity"). In multivariate logistic regression analyses, children with foreign-born parents were less likely than children with US-born parents to be perceived in "very good" or "excellent health" [OR = 0.68; 95% CI (0.56-0.82)] and to have a usual health care site [OR = 0.52 (0.38-0.69)]; having mixed-nativity parents is associated with better perceived child health. These effects persisted for minority, but not white, children. Regardless of race and ethnicity, non-citizen children have worse access to care. Conclusion: Efforts to improve children of immigrants' health and access to care should focus on families in which both parents are immigrants, particularly those who are ethnic or racial minorities. Efforts to increase use of health services should focus on non-citizen children. © Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2007.

Author Keywords

Child health access Latino health immigrants Child health

Index Keywords

Parents immigrant multivariate logistic regression analysis Health Status Disparities human ethnic group controlled study priority journal health status United States Humans ethnic difference Adolescent Infant, Newborn male Emigrants and Immigrants female Socioeconomic Factors Infant Child, Preschool Article health care utilization major clinical study health care access child health care health care need Healthcare Disparities Health Services Accessibility Child
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-40349085763&doi=10.1007%2fs10903-007-9061-y&partnerID=40&md5=3ae330bc5128ae5ebe88fef3872ae322
DOI: 10.1007/s10903-007-9061-y
ISSN: 15571912
Cited by: 24
Original Language: English