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01-07-2012

Mind the Gap: Gender Differences in Child Special Health Care Needs

Authors: Valerie Leiter, Patricia P. Rieker

Published in: Maternal and Child Health Journal | Issue 5/2012

Abstract

The gendered nature of special health care needs in childhood is an important yet understudied area. Although gendered differences in the prevalence of special health care needs have been documented, there is less knowledge about the factors which contribute to those differences. Two research questions guide this inquiry. First, is the gender gap consistent across child special health care need indicators? Second, to what extent is the gender gap in special health care needs driven by behavioral conditions? We use multiple indicators from the U.S. National Survey of Children’s Health to expand our understanding about the dynamic relationship between gender and childhood health. There are clear gender differences in the prevalence of special health care needs. Boys are more likely than girls to have special health care needs overall and on the five separate components examined (medication, more care than typical, limitations, special therapies, and educational or behavioral problem). This gender gap is dynamic and varies by indicator; while behavioral conditions play a role, it remains even after controlling for behavioral conditions. The reasons for the gender differences appear to be both biological and social but much remains unknown about this pattern.

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Title: Mind the Gap: Gender Differences in Child Special Health Care Needs
Authors: Valerie Leiter
Patricia P. Rieker
Publication date: 01-07-2012
Publisher: Springer US
Published in: Maternal and Child Health Journal / Issue 5/2012
Print ISSN: 1092-7875
Electronic ISSN: 1573-6628
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-011-0834-5

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Mind the Gap: Gender Differences in Child Special Health Care Needs

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