NCJ Number
234295
Journal
Child Abuse & Neglect Volume: 35 Issue: 1 Dated: January 2011 Pages: 29-39
Date Published
January 2011
Length
11 pages
Annotation
This study examined the link between health-related problems of children in the child welfare system and placement type and demographic/child welfare variables.
Abstract
Analyses of the study sample (n=449) found that 13 percent of the children were obese, more than 25 percent were overweight/obese, 78 percent had a physical health diagnosis, and 25 percent were provisionally identified with a developmental delay. In addition, children 2 years of age and older were more likely to be overweight/obese than those under 2 years, and Hispanic children were more likely to be overweight/obese than non-Hispanic children. Data for this study were obtained from a retrospective medical chart review of children under the age of 6 who were seen at an outpatient child welfare pediatric clinic. The study used logistic regression modeling to examine the link between health-related problems in children in the child welfare system and their demographic/child welfare variables and type of placement. The results of the study indicate the need for careful assessment of weight, medical, and developmental problems in children who are active in the child welfare system. Tables and references