Hospital admissions in children with developmental disabilities from ethnic minority backgrounds

Abstract

Aim To compare hospital admission patterns after the first year of life in Australian children with developmental disabilities and children with no known disability, according to maternal country of birth and Indigenous status. Method This was a retrospective cohort study using linked data across health, disability, and hospital admission databases. The study investigated 656 174 children born in Western Australia between 1983 and 2008 with a total of 1 091 834 records of hospital admissions. Results Children with no known disability born to Indigenous mothers had the highest rate of hospital admissions compared to children of non‐Indigenous mothers. Children of foreign‐born mothers from low‐income countries had the highest rate of hospital admissions if disability was present. Children with cerebral palsy (CP) with or without associated intellectual disability had the highest rate of hospital admissions among children with developmental disability, especially if mothers were foreign‐born. Interpretation Children with CP and intellectual disability, particularly from minority backgrounds (Indigenous Australian and foreign‐born mothers), were at higher risk of being admitted to hospital after the first year of life. What this paper adds Hospital admissions in Australian children with and without disabilities differ according to maternal country of birth. Hospital admission rates in children without a developmental disability were greatest for Australian‐born Indigenous children. Disabled Australian‐born children of foreign‐born mothers from low‐income countries had the highest hospital admission rates. Hospital admission risk was greatest for Australian‐born children with cerebral palsy, especially if mothers were foreign‐born.

Hospitalized children with intellectual disability: quality and safety challenges

“…Children with intellectual disability have distinct vulnerabilities. For example, they are at a higher risk for accidents at home, various medical complications, and they have greater frequency of hospitalization for these accidents or complications 1 . Mimmo et al 2 .…”

Hospitalization rates of children by developmental disability, maternal nativity, and Indigenous status: the complexity of intersectionality

“…In this issue, Abdullahi et al . attempt to bridge the sizeable research gap located at the complex intersection of social and disability‐related healthcare disparities.…”

“…This was nearly twice the rate of Australian‐born non‐Indigenous children without disability and the overall rate of hospitalization for children without disability. Among Australian‐born children with disability, Abdullahi et al . found that children of foreign‐born mothers who relocated to Australia from low‐income countries had the highest hospital admissions rates, closely followed by children from Indigenous backgrounds.…”

“…Abdullahi et al 4 identify minority backgrounds as Indigenous identity and maternal nativity (i.e. foreign-born from low-, lower-middle, upper-middle, and high-income countries), all of whom share a common variable of giving birth to a child within a disability group.…”

“…Compared to children from ethnic majority backgrounds, children from ethnic minority and Indigenous backgrounds are more likely to encounter social, economic, cultural, or institutional barriers that impede access to healthcare, leading to unmet healthcare needs and reduced health service utilization. 3 In this issue, Abdullahi et al 4 attempt to bridge the sizeable research gap located at the complex intersection of social and disability-related healthcare disparities. Using linked data from multiple administrative sources, they examine rates of hospitalization of children born in Western Australia by developmental disability, maternal nativity, and Indigenous status.…”