Poverty and Health of Children from Racial/Ethnic Minority and Immigrant Families in the Midwest

2010

Jean Kayitsinga

Document Id: RR-44

Using data from the 2007-2009 Annual Social and Economic supplement of the Current Population Surveys, this study explores the relationship between poverty and the health of children from various racial/ethnic minority and immigrant families in the Midwest. Findings show that: * Racial/ethnic minority children experience poorer health than Non-Hispanic White children; * Increased poverty among children predicts poorer children's health; and * Immigrant children have poorer health than natives, and second-generation immigrant children have poorer health than first- and third-generation immigrant children. This study demonstrates the health disadvantages of Midwestern children from racial/ethnic minority families faced by poverty. The gap in children't health between Non-Hispanic White and minority children persists even after accounting for the effects of immigrant status, poverty, family structure, parental education, health insurance coverage, and metropolitan/nonmetropolitan residence. Improving the economic well-being of all racial/ethnic minority and immigrant families would improve children's health.

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