Medical home access among American Indian and Alaska Native children in 7 states: National Survey of Children's Health

Matern Child Health J. 2012 Apr;16 Suppl 1(0 1):S6-13. doi: 10.1007/s10995-012-0990-2.

Abstract

To describe the prevalence of medical home among American Indian and Alaska Native children (AIAN) compared to non-Hispanic white (NHW) children and identify areas for improvement in the provision of care within a medical home. Prevalence of medical home, defined as family-centered, comprehensive, coordinated, compassionate, culturally effective care, including a personal doctor or nurse and usual care location, was estimated using 2007 National Survey of Children's Health data. Analyses included 1-17 year-olds in states reporting AIAN race as a distinct category (Alaska, Arizona, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, and South Dakota, n = 9,764). Associations between medical home and demographic (child's age, household education and income, and state) and health-related [child's insurance status, special health care need status, and past year Indian Health Service (IHS) utilization] characteristics were assessed among AIAN children. Overall, the prevalence of medical home was 27 % lower among AIAN children (42.6, 95 % CI = 34.4-50.8) than NHW children (58.3, 95 % CI = 56.2-60.4). Child's age (adjusted OR [aOR] = 2.7, 95 % CI = 1.3-5.6) was significantly associated with medical home. IHS utilization was associated with medical home among AIAN children with private insurance (aOR = 0.2, 95 % CI = 0.1-0.4), but not among uninsured or publicly insured children. Care coordination and family-centered care were noted areas for improvement among AIAN children. Less than half of AIAN children had a medical home. Future studies should further examine the intersection between insurance and IHS to determine if enhanced coordination is needed for this population, which is often served by multiple federally-funded health-related programs.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Child
  • Child Health Services / statistics & numerical data
  • Child, Preschool
  • Female
  • Health Care Surveys
  • Health Services Accessibility / statistics & numerical data*
  • Health Services Needs and Demand
  • Healthcare Disparities / statistics & numerical data*
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Logistic Models
  • Male
  • Patient-Centered Care / statistics & numerical data*
  • Prevalence
  • Socioeconomic Factors
  • United States
  • United States Indian Health Service / statistics & numerical data*