Citation
Lawrence, Elizabeth M.; Rogers, Richard G.; & Hummer, Robert A. (2020). Maternal Educational Attainment and Child Health in the United States. American Journal of Health Promotion, 34(3), 303-306. PMCID: PMC7033002Abstract
PURPOSE: To identify how child health status differs by mother's educational attainment for the overall US population and by race/ethnicity and to assess whether these disparities have changed from 2000 to 2017.DESIGN: Repeated cross-sectional data from the 2000-2017 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS).
SETTING: United States.
PARTICIPANTS: Children aged 1 to 17 years from a nationally representative sample of the noninstitutionalized US population (N = 199 427).
MEASURES: Reported child health status, mother's educational attainment, child's race/ethnicity, and control variables were measured using the NHIS.
ANALYSIS: Using logistic regression models, we assessed the relationship between maternal education and child health. Missing data were imputed.
RESULTS: Children whose mothers had less than a high school education (odds ratio [OR] = 3.84, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 3.62-4.07), high school diploma or equivalent (OR = 2.57, 95% CI: 2.44-2.70), or some college (OR = 1.90, 95% CI: 1.80-2.00) had worse reported health status compared to children whose mothers graduated college. These associations were strongest among non-Hispanic white children, with significantly (P < .05) smaller associations observed for non-Hispanic black, Mexican origin, and other Hispanic children. The associations were smaller but persisted with inclusion of controls. From 2000 to 2017, child health disparities slightly narrowed or remained stagnant among white, non-Hispanic black, and other Hispanic children but widened for Mexican origin children (P < .05).
CONCLUSION: Maternal education disparities in child health are wide and have persisted.
URL
http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0890117119890799Reference Type
Journal ArticleYear Published
2020Journal Title
American Journal of Health PromotionAuthor(s)
Lawrence, Elizabeth M.Rogers, Richard G.
Hummer, Robert A.
Article Type
RegularPMCID
PMC7033002Data Set/Study
National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES)Continent/Country
United States of AmericaState
NonspecificSex/Gender
WomenORCiD
Hummer - 0000-0003-3058-6383Lawrence, E. - 0000-0001-9176-3991