Journal article
Changes in Child Health Care, Health, and Caregiver Mental Health During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Children with Autism and Special Health Care Needs
Maternal and child health journal, v 29(1), pp 78-86
22 Nov 2024
PMID: 39576377
Featured in Collection : UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
Abstract
Purpose
The COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent mitigation efforts impacted communities in many ways and placed immense strain on the health care system, impacting access to services. The purpose of this study was to examine changes in prevalence of child health care, child health, and caregiver and household health within children with autism and children with special health care needs (CSHCN) pre-pandemic to early pandemic years.
Methods
We examined data from the National Survey of Children’s Health to examine changes in child health care, child health, and caregiver and household health for autistic children and CSHCN from 2018 to 2021.
Results
About one-third of children with autism and CSHCN missed preventive checkups due to the COVID-19 pandemic and half had virtual care in 2021. Parents of children with autism had less help with care coordination in 2020 compared to previous years. In CSHCN prevalence of anxiety increased from 2018/2019 to 2021, with a concurrent increase in need for mental health care, this was not seen in children with autism. Finally, difficulty paying medical bills and for food was less common in 2020 and 2021 (compared to 2018/2019).
Conclusions
The COVID-19 pandemic changed the healthcare landscape for everyone, including children with autism and CSHCN as highlighted in this study. Understanding the disruptions and how they impacted populations differently can be helpful in informing plans long-term emergency preparedness. This planning should involve disability inclusive policies, to ensure the most vulnerable groups retain health care access as needed.
Metrics
Details
- Title
- Changes in Child Health Care, Health, and Caregiver Mental Health During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Children with Autism and Special Health Care Needs
- Creators
- Jessica E Rast (Corresponding Author) - Drexel University, A.J. Drexel Autism InstituteKaitlin H Koffer Miller - Drexel University, A.J. Drexel Autism InstituteJennifer Bromberg - Drexel University, A.J. Drexel Autism InstituteJonas Cipres Ventimiglia - Drexel University, A.J. Drexel Autism InstituteKristy A Anderson - Florida State UniversityLindsay Lawer Shea - Drexel University, Urban Health Collaborative
- Publication Details
- Maternal and child health journal, v 29(1), pp 78-86
- Publisher
- Springer Nature
- Number of pages
- 9
- Grant note
- Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS): UT6MC45902, UT2MC39440
This project is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under cooperative agreement UT6MC45902, Autism Transitions Research Project (ATRP), and UT2MC39440, Autism Intervention Research Network on Physical Health (AIR-P). The information, content, and/or conclusions are those of the author and should not be construed as the official position or policy of, nor should any endorsements be inferred by HRSA, HHS or the U.S. Government. Health Resources and Services Administration.
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- A.J. Drexel Autism Institute
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:001360974600001
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-85210001226
- Other Identifier
- 991021961413204721
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- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- Web of Science research areas
- Public, Environmental & Occupational Health