Issn Print: 0196-206X
Publication Date: 2001/04/01
Functional limitations and key indicators of well-being in children with disability
Excerpt
Hogan DP, Rogers ML, Msall ME: Functional limitations and key indicators of well-being in children with disability. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 154:1042, 2000.HoganDPRogersMLMsallMEFunctional limitations and key indicators of well-being in children with disability.Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med15410422000
Many studies have examined the family, social and medical situations of children with specific health conditions, and developmental disabilities. However, these studies have not assessed functional limitations or disability. This study sought to examine children, ages 5 to 17 years, with limitations in mobility, self-care, communication, and learning. Data for the study were derived from the 1994 and 1995 National Health Interview Surveys on Disability (NHIS-D) (N = 41,300) and the Year 2000 Health Supplements to the 1994 NHIS-D (N = 9530). Environmental measures included family resources, safety, health status, and health access. The presence and severity of limitations were measured across the domains of mobility, self-care, communication, and learning. The study found that children with mobility, self-care, communication, or learning limitations were less likely to live in homes with two parents present and more frequently lived with a single parent or had other arrangements. Children with limitations in mobility or self-care were equally likely as children without limitations to have a usual place of medical care; approximately 10% of children in each group did not have a usual source of care. Children with each type of limitation in function had poorer access to needed medical care compared with children without functional limitations and more often received delayed care or did not receive care at all because of cost or a lack of insurance. Limitations in each area of functioning were associated with poorer health status, including even mild limitations in communication and learning that were associated with poorer health status. Children with limitations were also more likely to live in homes in which another member smokes tobacco. The authors conclude that children with functional limitations (including learning and communication problems) more often have unfavorable family resources, less healthy home environments, poorer health status, and less health service access than other children, making them more susceptible to developmental difficulties beyond those associated with the challenges of their specific functional limitations.
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