NCJ Number
178621
Journal
Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine Volume: 152 Dated: March 1998 Pages: 255-262
Date Published
March 1998
Length
8 pages
Annotation
This study documented the child-rearing needs and pediatric health care experiences of parents with children from birth to 3 years old.
Abstract
A nationally representative sample of 2,017 parents with children younger than 3 years old were interviewed, using a 25- minute structured telephone questionnaire. Interviews were completed by 68 percent of the screened eligible respondents. The margin of sampling error for results at the 95 percent confidence level was plus or minus 3 percentage points. Seventy-six percent of children younger than 3 years were reported by parents to be in excellent health; 88 percent had a regular source of pediatric health care. Seventy-one percent of parents who received special pediatric services rated their child's physician as excellent in providing good health care. Seventy-nine percent of parents reported they could use more information in at least one of six areas of child-rearing, and 53 percent wanted information in at least three areas. Forty-two percent had talked with their child's physician about "non-medical" concerns; 39 percent of parents read to or looked at a picture book with their child on a daily basis; 51 percent of parents set daily routines for meals, naps, and bedtime. Breast-feeding and reading to the child on a daily basis were much more likely if a physician encouraged parents to do so. Thus, parents want more information and support on child-rearing concerns, yet pediatric clinicians often fail to discuss non-medical issues with them. Pediatric practices should consider creative ways to reconstitute and augment their current services and systems of care. 15 tables and 18 references