Parental Primary Language, Access to Care, And Parental Report of Developmental Delays Among Premature Infants

Abstract

Abstract Objectives: We sought to determine if premature infants of Spanish-speaking caregivers had poorer access to healthcare and higher prevalence of reported developmental delays compared to an English-speaking cohort. Methods:This study used 2016-2018 National Survey of Children’s Health (NSCH) data. Our outcomes were (1) various measure of access to healthcare and (2) caregiver reported developmental delay. Results: Premature children in Spanish-speaking families were less likely to have a medical home (29.1% vs. 49.3%, p<0.001) or primary care provider (58.0% vs. 73.7%, p<0.001); their caregivers were more likely to report their child having difficulty using their hands (28.1% vs. 11.3%, p=0.03) but less likely to report having a formal diagnosis of developmental delay (8.7% vs. 14.5%, p = 0.05). Conclusions: In a national sample, Spanish-speaking families of premature infants reported difficulty accessing a medical home, preventative services, and a formal diagnosis of developmental delay, despite reporting more concerns about specific delays.