Optimizing Health and Health Care Systems for Children with Special Health Care Needs Using the Life Course Perspective

To date, life course research in maternal and child health has largely focused on elucidating fetal and early life influences on adult health and less on promoting the health of children with special health care needs (CSHCN). Consideration of life course theory (LCT) for CSHCN is especially importa...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Maternal and child health journal 2014-02, Vol.18 (2), p.467-477
Main Authors: Bethell, Christina D., Newacheck, Paul W., Fine, Amy, Strickland, Bonnie B., Antonelli, Richard C., Wilhelm, Cambria L., Honberg, Lynda E., Wells, Nora
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adult
Child
Child, Preschool
Children & youth
Childrens health
Chronic Disease - epidemiology
Chronic Disease - prevention & control
Chronic illnesses
Comorbidity
Disabled Children - statistics & numerical data
Female
Gynecology
Health care
Health care policy
Health Promotion - organization & administration
Health Promotion - standards
Health Surveys
Human Development
Humans
Infant
Infant, Newborn
Male
Maternal & child health
Maternal and Child Health
Medical care
Medicine
Medicine & Public Health
Patient-Centered Care - organization & administration
Patient-Centered Care - standards
Pediatrics
Population Economics
Prevalence
Public Health
Quality management
Quality of Health Care - organization & administration
Quality of Health Care - standards
Quality of life
Social Determinants of Health
Sociology
United States - epidemiology
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Summary:To date, life course research in maternal and child health has largely focused on elucidating fetal and early life influences on adult health and less on promoting the health of children with special health care needs (CSHCN). Consideration of life course theory (LCT) for CSHCN is especially important given their increasing prevalence and comorbidity, their disproportionate vulnerability to weaknesses or instability in the health care system, and the growing evidence linking child and adult health and quality of life. In this commentary we seek to advance the consideration of LCT for CSHCN. We (1) briefly summarize key issues and the importance of a life course approach for CSHCN; (2) present illustrative findings from population-based cross-sectional data that serve to generate hypotheses that can be more rigorously examined when population-based longitudinal data become available; and (3) discuss the application of life course principles as a driving force in the continued implementation and improvement of integrated systems of care for CSHCN.
ISSN:1092-7875
1573-6628
DOI:10.1007/s10995-013-1371-1