Unmet mental health need and access to services for children with special health care needs and their families

Moira Inkelas; Ramesh Raghavan; Kandyce Larson; Alice A Kuo; Alexander N Ortega

doi:10.1016/j.ambp.2007.08.001

Back

Journal article

Unmet mental health need and access to services for children with special health care needs and their families

Moira Inkelas, Ramesh Raghavan, Kandyce Larson, Alice A Kuo and Alexander N Ortega

Ambulatory pediatrics : the official journal of the Ambulatory Pediatric Association, Vol.7(6), pp.431-438

11/2007

DOI: 10.1016/j.ambp.2007.08.001

PMID: 17996836

View Online

Abstract

Studies suggest that children with disabilities or serious health conditions are vulnerable to mental health problems due to adjustment and limitation problems. The aim of this study was to examine rates and predictors of unmet mental health need among children with special health care needs (CSHCN) and their family members and to determine if race/ethnicity and language are associated with unmet need for the child and family members who have a mental health need attributed to the child's special needs. Data are from the 2001 National Survey of Children with Special Health Care Needs, a nationally representative sample of CSHCN. Rates of unmet need were higher for CSHCN and family members of CSHCN with a chronic emotional, behavioral, or developmental problem (EBDP) compared to CSHCN with a mental health need but not a chronic EBDP. In multivariate analysis controlling for condition impact and demographics, among CSHCN with a chronic EBDP, African-American children had greater odds of unmet need (OR 1.60, 95% CI, 1.12-2.28), and family members of Hispanic children with a Spanish language parent interview had greater odds of unmet need compared to others (OR 4.48, 95% CI, 1.72-11.63). Lacking a personal doctor or nurse was associated with higher odds of unmet need for CSHCN with and without a chronic EBDP. Parents reported prevalent mental health needs of CSHCN as well as family members. Given the importance of family members to the care of CSHCN, research on racial/ethnic disparities in access to perceived needs should focus on children and their family members.

Adolescent

Child

Child, Preschool

Chronic Disease

Disabled Children - statistics & numerical data

Family Health

Female

Health Care Surveys

Health Services Accessibility

Health Services Needs and Demand

Humans

Male

Mental Health Services - statistics & numerical data

Minority Groups - statistics & numerical data

Multivariate Analysis

Socioeconomic Factors

Details

Title: Subtitle: Unmet mental health need and access to services for children with special health care needs and their families
Creators: Moira Inkelas - University of California, Los Angeles
Ramesh Raghavan - Social Work
Kandyce Larson - University of California, Los Angeles
Alice A Kuo - University of California, Los Angeles
Alexander N Ortega - University of California, Los Angeles
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Ambulatory pediatrics : the official journal of the Ambulatory Pediatric Association, Vol.7(6), pp.431-438
DOI: 10.1016/j.ambp.2007.08.001
PMID: 17996836
ISSN: 1530-1567
eISSN: 1539-4409
Grant note: 5P30 MH068579 / NIMH NIH HHS 1P20MD000148-01 / NIMHD NIH HHS R01 MH069849 / NIMH NIH HHS
Language: English
Date published: 11/2007
Academic Unit: Public Policy Center (Archive)
Record Identifier: 9984283706602771

Metrics

9 Record Views

69 Times Cited - Web of Science

See more details