Health care use of 3-year-old low birth weight premature children: effects of family and neighborhood poverty.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to examine the effect of family and neighborhood income on health care use of young children born prematurely and of low birth weight (N = 619).

DESIGN

A birth cohort was enrolled in a clinical randomized trial of early childhood educational and family services.

SETTINGS/PARTICIPANTS: Infant Health and Development Program provided a sample of low birth weight premature infants stratified by clinical site, birth weight, and treatment group. Maternal reports of health care use, family income, and heath insurance were obtained at 12, 24, and 36 months of corrected age. Neighborhood income was based on census tract residence at birth.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Maternal reports of hospitalizations, doctor visits, and emergency department visits were used; data were averaged over the child's first 3 years of life.

RESULTS

Children from poorer families were more likely to be hospitalized and to have more emergency department visits than were children from more affluent families. Residence in poor and middle-income neighborhoods was associated with more emergency department visits than residence in affluent neighborhoods. Families in middle-income neighborhoods reported more doctor visits than families in poor or affluent neighborhoods.

CONCLUSION

Neighborhood residence influences health care use by poor and nonpoor families and by insured and uninsured families. The use of the emergency department for low birth weight premature children in middle-income and poor neighborhoods is discussed.