Health Care for Children in Immigrant Families: Key Considerations and Addressing Barriers

Keith J Martin; Sarah Polk; Janine Young; Lisa Ross DeCamp

doi:10.1016/j.pcl.2023.03.011

Health Care for Children in Immigrant Families: Key Considerations and Addressing Barriers

Pediatr Clin North Am. 2023 Aug;70(4):791-811. doi: 10.1016/j.pcl.2023.03.011. Epub 2023 May 22.

Authors

Keith J Martin¹, Sarah Polk¹, Janine Young², Lisa Ross DeCamp³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; Centro SOL-Center for Salud/Health and Opportunity for Latinos, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.
² Department of Pediatrics University of California San Diego School of Medicine; Rady Children's Hospital San Diego.
³ Children's Hospital Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA; Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA; Adult and Child Center for Outcomes Research and Delivery Science, Aurora, CO, USA; Latino Research and Policy Center, Denver, CO, USA. Electronic address: lisa.decamp@childrenscolorado.org.

PMID: 37422315
DOI: 10.1016/j.pcl.2023.03.011

Abstract

One in four US children is a child in an immigrant family. Children in immigrant families (CIF) have distinct health and health care needs that vary by documentation status, countries of origin, and health care and community experience caring for immigrant populations. Health insurance access and language services are fundamental to providing health care to CIF. Promoting health equity for CIF requires a comprehensive approach to both the health and social determinants of health needs of CIF. Child health providers can promote health equity for this population through tailored primary care services and partnerships with immigrant-serving community organizations.

Keywords: Health care disparities; Immigrants; Limited English proficiency; Medical home; Social determinants of health.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Child
Child Health Services*
Emigrants and Immigrants*
Health Equity*
Health Promotion
Health Services Accessibility
Humans