Predictors of maternal health-seeking for low income children

The purpose of this study was to explore the factors associated with illness-related and preventive health-seeking of low income mothers on behalf of their children. It was expected that maternal enabling factors of maternal age, race, marital status and maternal self-reported health status would predict the seeking of medical and dental health services for children 0-19 yrs of age. The sample was drawn from existing Medicaid managed care administrative and public health nursing clinical data (2001-2006). Mothers and oldest child dyads were included in the analyses (N=1146). The majority of the mothers were white (N=682); 40% (N=464) were non-white. The largest child age group was less than one year (n=321); the mean maternal age was 28. Maternal self-reported health status was measured using the HSQ-12. Maternal total health status scores (0-800) were very high; mean was 675; mode was 752. Logistic regression results overall for this sample indicate that maternal enabling factors did not strongly predict seeking of child health services, however trends in the data support different health seeking models for child medical care versus dental care and for child illness-related versus preventive health services seeking. Because mothers are the major health decision-makers in families and households, more research is needed regarding factors that predict maternal health seeking on behalf of their children.