TY - JOUR
T1 - Disparities in Familiarity With Developmental Disabilities Among Low-Income Parents
AU - Zuckerman, Katharine E.
AU - Chavez, Alison E.
AU - Regalado Murillo, Carolina
AU - Lindly, Olivia J.
AU - Reeder, Julie A.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2018 Academic Pediatric Association
PY - 2018/11/1
Y1 - 2018/11/1
N2 - Objective: Parent knowledge about developmental disabilities (DDs) may facilitate access to DD care; however, parents may vary in their knowledge and familiarity with common DDs. This study aimed to assess racial/ethnic and language differences in low-income families’ familiarity, knowledge, and personal experience with DDs. Methods: We conducted a child development survey among 539 low-income parents of young children attending visits at the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) in 6 Oregon counties in 2015. Survey items assessed parent familiarity with early signs of DDs, self-reported knowledge about DDs, and personal experience with a friend or family member with a DD. Bivariable and multivariable analyses assessed differences in outcomes among non-Latino white (white), Latino English-proficient (Latino-EP), Latino limited–English-proficient (Latino-LEP), and non-Latino other race English-proficient (other race) parents. Results: Overall, parent participants correctly identified 64.7% of early signs of DDs. White parents correctly identified the most early signs, even after adjustment for sociodemographic factors. Compared with white parents, Latino-LEP, Latino-EP, and other race parents were less likely to have heard of prevalent DDs, such as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and autism, and less likely to have a friend or family member with a DD. Conclusions: Low-income Latino-LEP and other race parents have less familiarity or personal experience with DDs and are less aware of early signs of DDs compared to low-income white parents. Study findings suggest that interventions to reduce disparities in DD diagnosis and treatment should include increasing information transfer to parents in racial/ethnic and language minority communities.
AB - Objective: Parent knowledge about developmental disabilities (DDs) may facilitate access to DD care; however, parents may vary in their knowledge and familiarity with common DDs. This study aimed to assess racial/ethnic and language differences in low-income families’ familiarity, knowledge, and personal experience with DDs. Methods: We conducted a child development survey among 539 low-income parents of young children attending visits at the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) in 6 Oregon counties in 2015. Survey items assessed parent familiarity with early signs of DDs, self-reported knowledge about DDs, and personal experience with a friend or family member with a DD. Bivariable and multivariable analyses assessed differences in outcomes among non-Latino white (white), Latino English-proficient (Latino-EP), Latino limited–English-proficient (Latino-LEP), and non-Latino other race English-proficient (other race) parents. Results: Overall, parent participants correctly identified 64.7% of early signs of DDs. White parents correctly identified the most early signs, even after adjustment for sociodemographic factors. Compared with white parents, Latino-LEP, Latino-EP, and other race parents were less likely to have heard of prevalent DDs, such as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and autism, and less likely to have a friend or family member with a DD. Conclusions: Low-income Latino-LEP and other race parents have less familiarity or personal experience with DDs and are less aware of early signs of DDs compared to low-income white parents. Study findings suggest that interventions to reduce disparities in DD diagnosis and treatment should include increasing information transfer to parents in racial/ethnic and language minority communities.
KW - Children
KW - Infants
KW - Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women
KW - child development
KW - developmental disabilities
KW - health care disparities
KW - health services accessibility
KW - health services accessibility
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85053010203&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85053010203&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.acap.2018.06.011
DO - 10.1016/j.acap.2018.06.011
M3 - Article
C2 - 29981380
AN - SCOPUS:85053010203
SN - 1876-2859
VL - 18
SP - 944
EP - 951
JO - Academic Pediatrics
JF - Academic Pediatrics
IS - 8
ER -