Many factors affect how easily children can access health care. For example, research shows that about 1 in 10 people in the United States lacks health insurance. Without that coverage, children are less likely to go to primary care appointments, receive dental care or get needed medications.
Other social determinants of health that can affect children’s health or their ability to receive health services may include:
- Challenging education environment
- Difficulty accessing nutritious food
- Economic instability
- Experiencing discrimination, racism or violence
- Literacy and language skill limitations
- Polluted water or air
- Poor housing or homelessness
In 2019, Nemours Childrens Hospital partnered with The Harris Poll to conduct a national survey of more than 1,000 parents of children under 18. We found key statistics such as:
- 32% said they’ve missed at least one of their child’s medical appointments in the last year because they were unable to get to it or pay for it.
- 30% said they don’t have time to worry about their child’s health unless it’s a medical emergency.
- 23% worried they’d run out of food before getting money to buy more.
Medical care accounts for only about 15% of a family’s overall well-being. Visit this website for more information on how to redefine health and health care in order to better meet the needs of children and their families.