Material hardship in families with children with health conditions: Implications for practice

Abstract

Cross-sectional data from the third wave of a ten-year data collection initiative were used to assess the odds of experiencing four material hardships between families who have a child member with a limiting health condition, and families with children who do not have a child member with a limiting health condition. The odds of experiencing material hardship in families with more than one child with a limiting health condition were also assessed. In the multivariable models, having a child in the household with a limiting health condition increases the odds the household will be unable to pay bills, and have their phone service disconnected. Also, having more than one child in a household with a limiting health condition increases the odds of being unable to pay bills, having a phone disconnected, and receiving food stamps. Interventions to assist these vulnerable families are presented.

Paid sick leave status in relation to government sponsored welfare utilization.

“…Past research has also explored the bidirectional relationship that exists between material hardships and having a child with a limiting health condition. Specifically, families who have a child with limiting health conditions are more likely to experience material hardship, food insecurity, and delayed prescription medicine compliance due to lost wages and costs associated with caring for their child (DeRigne, Stoddard-Dare, Mallet, & Quinn, 2014; Stoddard-Dare, DeRigne, Mallett, & Quinn, 2015; Stoddard-Dare, DeRigne, Quinn, & Mallet, 2015,). As an example of material hardship experienced by parents of ill children, an Australian study conducted following the H1N1 flu pandemic of 2009 found that 42% of parents without paid sick leave who stayed home with sick children during the quarantine reported financial consequences of being unable to pay bills the following month, having difficulty paying the mortgage or rent, or having to borrow money (Kavanagh et al, 2012).…”

Using Canadian administrative health data to measure the health of caregivers of children with and without health problems: A demonstration of feasibility.

“…Parents of children with health problems experience challenges beyond those experienced by parents of healthy children. These include increased time spent providing care [1,2]; impacts on family resources such as lower incomes [3,4], increased material hardship [5,6]; employment constraints [3][4][5]7]; and child care and support challenges [7,8]. Demographic changes such as smaller family units and more single-parent families [9] may also contribute to greater challenges for parents and families of children with health problems.…”