Health statistics for U.S. children: 2000 - Federal Studies

Family Economics and Nutrition Review, Spring, 2003

This report presents statistics from the 2000 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) on selected health measures for children under 18 years old, classified by gender, age, race, Hispanic origin, family structure, parent's education, family income, poverty status, health insurance coverage, residence, region, and health status. The topics covered are asthma, allergies, learning disability, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, prescription medication, respondent-assessed health status, school-loss days, usual place of health care, time since the last contact with a health care professional, unmet dental need, time since the last dental contact, and selected measures of health care access. The NHIS is a multistage probability sample survey conducted annually by interviewers of the U.S. Census Bureau for the National Center for Health Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and is representative of the civilian noninstitutionalized population of the United States. Information about the children is collected for one randomly selected child per family. Face-to-face interviews, with an adult proxy respondent familiar with the child's health, are used to collect the data.

Most children in excellent or very good health

In 2000, of the 72.3 million children in the United States, the majority were reported to be in excellent (54 percent) or very good health (29 percent). Two percent were reported to be in fair or poor health. Poverty status was associated with children's health: Only 4 of 10 children in poor families were in excellent health, compared with 6 of 10 children in families that were not poor.

Hispanic children less likely to have usual place of health care

Although most children (93 percent) had a usual place of health care, typically a doctor's office or clinic, Hispanic children were less likely than other children to have a usual place. Thirteen percent of Hispanic children did not have a usual place of health care, compared with 7 percent of non-Hispanic Black children and 5 percent of non-Hispanic White children.

Twelve percent of children diagnosed with asthma

Nine million U.S. children under age 18 (12 percent) have ever been diagnosed with asthma. Boys were more likely than girls to have ever been diagnosed with asthma (15 vs. 10 percent).

Eight percent of children have a learning disability

Almost 5 million children 3 to 17 years old (8 percent) had a learning disability. Ten percent of boys had a learning disability, compared with 6 percent of girls. Almost 4 million children 3 to 17 years old (7 percent) had Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.

Reported health status of children

Excellent    54%
Very Good    29%
Good         15%
Fair/poor     2%

Note: Table made from pie chart.

Source: Blackwell, D.L., Vickerie, J.L., & Wondimu, E.A. (2003).
Summary health statistics for U.S. children: National Health
Interview Survey, 2000. National Center for Health Statistics.
Vital Health Statistics 10(213).

Children without usual place of health care, by race/ethnicity

Hispanic              13%
Non-Hispanic Black     7%
Non-Hispanic White     5%

Note: Table made from bar graph.

Source: Blackwell, D.L., Vickerie, J.L., & Wondimu, E.A. (2003).
Summary health statistics for U.S. children: National Health
Interview Survey, 2000. National Center for Health Statistics.
Vital Health Statistics 10(213).

Children with asthma, by gender

All children    12%
Boys            15%
Girls           10%

Note: Table made from bar graph.

Source: Blackwell, D.L., Vickerie, J.L., & Wondimu, E.A. (2003).
Summary health statistics for U.S. children: National Health
Interview Survey, 2000. National Center for Health Statistics.
Vital Health Statistics 10(213).

Children with learning disability, by gender

All children     8%
Boys            10%
Girls            6%

Note: Table made from bar graph.

Source: Blackwell, D.L., Vickerie, J.L., & Wondimu, E.A. (2003).
Summary health statistics for U.S. children: National Health
Interview Survey, 2000. National Center for Health Statistics.
Vital Health Statistics 10(213).