Hernandez Virginia Rondero, Montana Salvador, Clarke Kris
Department of Social Work Education, California State University, Fresno, CA 93740, USA.
Health Soc Work. 2010 Nov;35(4):291-301. doi: 10.1093/hsw/35.4.291.
Numerous studies acknowledge that the well-being of our nation hinges on the health of its people. There is specific concern about children because they represent the future. Ignoring children's health needs can compromise their educational preparedness, occupational pursuits, productivity, and longevity. Current science demonstrates that developmental, emotional, or behavioral limitations experienced during the early years of life and over the life course are associated with poor adult health outcomes. Poverty, restricted access to health insurance and health care services, cultural and linguistic barriers, neighborhood conditions, and racial and class inequalities exacerbate poor health outcomes and contribute to child health inequality. To respond to the complexities and threats of child health inequality, social workers must be sensitized to the physical and material constraints that support them and join forces with other disciplines in comprehensive approaches to reduce and prevent them. This article focuses on current knowledge about child health inequality and recommends how social workers can effect change in this area through practice, policy, and research that adheres to the profession's ethical principles and standards and promotes the public health.
众多研究承认，我们国家的福祉取决于其人民的健康。人们尤其关注儿童，因为他们代表着未来。忽视儿童的健康需求会损害他们的教育准备、职业追求、生产力和寿命。当前科学表明，生命早期及整个生命过程中经历的发育、情感或行为限制与成年后的不良健康结果相关。贫困、获得医疗保险和医疗服务的机会受限、文化和语言障碍、邻里环境以及种族和阶层不平等加剧了不良健康结果，并导致儿童健康不平等。为应对儿童健康不平等的复杂性和威胁，社会工作者必须认识到支持他们的身体和物质限制，并与其他学科联手采取综合方法来减少和预防这些问题。本文重点关注关于儿童健康不平等的现有知识，并建议社会工作者如何通过遵循该专业的道德原则和标准并促进公共卫生的实践、政策和研究，在这一领域实现变革。
