RTI uses cookies to offer you the best experience online. By clicking “accept” on this website, you opt in and you agree to the use of cookies. If you would like to know more about how RTI uses cookies and how to manage them please view our Privacy Policy here. You can “opt out” or change your mind by visiting: http://optout.aboutads.info/. Click “accept” to agree.
Parental nativity affects children's health and access to care
Weathers, AC., Novak, S., Sastry, N., & Norton, E. (2008). Parental nativity affects children's health and access to care. Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health, 10(2), 155-165.
OBJECTIVE: To examine the effect of parental nativity on child health and access to health care. DATA SOURCE: The 2002 National Survey of America's Families. RESULTS: Among US children, 14% have foreign-born parents; 5% have one foreign- and one native-born parent ('mixed-nativity'). In multivariate logistic regression analyses, children with foreign-born parents were less likely than children with US-born parents to be perceived in 'very good' or 'excellent health' [OR = 0.68; 95% CI (0.56-0.82)] and to have a usual health care site [OR = 0.52 (0.38-0.69)]; having mixed-nativity parents is associated with better perceived child health. These effects persisted for minority, but not white, children. Regardless of race and ethnicity, non-citizen children have worse access to care. CONCLUSION: Efforts to improve children of immigrants' health and access to care should focus on families in which both parents are immigrants, particularly those who are ethnic or racial minorities. Efforts to increase use of health services should focus on non-citizen children