Disparities in access to care among asthmatic children in relation to race and socioeconomic status

Abstract

Asthma is one of the leading chronic illnesses among children in the United States. International epidemiological studies have also shown asthma prevalence is an increasing problem. The objective of this study was to examine the correlates of access to care among asthmatic children age 0—17 in the United States. This is a retrospective study and secondary data analysis of the 2000 National Health Interview Survey. Parametric testing using univariate, bivariate, and multivariate analyses were performed to examine health care utilization among children with asthma in the United States. It was found that Black children were highly associated with not visiting a general doctor in the past 12 months (OR 0.47; 95% CI 0.30, 0.75). Uninsured asthmatic children were associated with the risk of not seeing a general doctor in the past 12 months (OR 0.40; 95% CI 0.23, 0.69). Our study findings indicate disparities among Black children with asthma and their ability to access appropriate health care services. Additional studies are required to identify factors that contribute to the temporal trends in asthma and country of origin.