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Primary Submission Category: Place/Communities
Health Profiles of Children in Immigrant Families: Insights from a U.S. Nationally Representative Survey
Authors: Oksana Kutsa, Hannah Piscalko, Sarah E. Anderson,
Presenting Author: Oksana Kutsa*
Background: In the U.S, one in four children lives with a foreign-born caregiver. Nationally representative studies of their health are limited and largely pre-COVID, but existing studies suggest that children in immigrant families (CIF) may have lower rates of chronic conditions despite socioeconomic and healthcare disparities.
Methods: Using 2021–2022 National Survey of Children’s Health (NSCH) data, we examined sociodemographics, health conditions, insurance, and preventive care among CIF. Households with children (<18 y) were contacted by mail and randomly selected for the survey (completed by web or mail). NSCH oversampled ages 0–5 and children with special health care needs, and survey weights yield nationally representative estimates. CIF were defined as children born outside the U.S. or living with ≥1 foreign-born caregiver and compared to children in non-immigrant families.
Results: CIF account for 29.7% of U.S. children (95% CI: 29.0–30.4), including 3.0% who live with a non-parent caregiver such as a grandparent, foster parent, or other relative. Compared to children in non-immigrant families, CIF were more likely to live with two married caregivers (69.5% vs 67.2%) but less likely to have a caregiver with a college degree (46.1% vs 57.4%) or employed full-time (86.2% vs 89.4%). CIF were more likely to live below the federal poverty level (24.0% vs 15.4%), and less likely to have chronic health conditions (69.4% vs 58.0%). Prevalence of allergies (14.2% vs 22.5%), asthma (4.4% vs 7.2%), depression (2.5% vs 5.0%), and behavioral problems (4.4% vs 8.1%) was also lower among CIF. CIF were more likely to be told they were overweight (10.1% vs 6.8%), lack health insurance (9.6% vs 5.2%), and have had no preventive medical visit in the past year (28.9% vs 19.7%).
Conclusions: CIF show strong overall health, but socioeconomic, insurance, and preventive healthcare gaps remain. Further analyses will examine disparities and health outcomes in this key population.