Health care use and health behaviors among young adults with history of parental incarceration

Citation

Heard-Garris, Nia; Winkelman, Tyler N. A.; Choi, Hwajung; Miller, Alex K.; Kan, Kristin; Shlafer, Rebecca; & Davis, Matthew M. (2018). Health care use and health behaviors among young adults with history of parental incarceration. Pediatrics. vol. 142 (2)

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: To determine if longitudinal associations exist between parental incarceration (PI) and health care use or health behaviors among a national sample of young adults. METHODS: We used the National Longitudinal Survey of Adolescent to Adult Health to examine associations between history of mother incarceration (MI) and father incarceration (FI), health care use, and 3 dimensions of health behaviors (eg, general health behaviors, substance use, and other risky behaviors) (N = 13 084). Multivariable logistic regression models accounted for individual, family, and geographic factors and generated adjusted odds ratios (aORs).RESULTS: Over 10% of the sample had a history of PI before the age of 18. History of MI and FI were both associated with forgone health care (aOR = 1.65 [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.20–2.27], aOR = 1.22 [95% CI, 1.02–1.47], respectively), prescription drug abuse (MI aOR = 1.61 [95% CI, 1.02–2.55], FI aOR = 1.46 [95% CI, 1.20–1.79]), and 10 or more lifetime sexual partners (MI aOR = 1.55 [95% CI, 1.08–2.22], FI aOR = 1.19 [95% CI, 1.01–1.41]). MI was associated with higher likelihood of emergency department use (aOR = 2.36 [95% CI, 1.51–3.68]), and FI was associated with illicit injection drug use (aOR = 2.54 [95% CI, 1.27–5.12]).CONCLUSIONS: The effects of incarceration extend beyond incarcerated individuals. PI histories are associated with lower health care use and unhealthy behaviors in young adulthood. By addressing barriers to health care and health-harming behaviors, health care providers and policy makers may reduce health disparities among this population.

URL

https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2017-4314

Notes

PMID: 29987170

Reference Type

Journal Article

Journal Title

Pediatrics

Author(s)

Heard-Garris, Nia
Winkelman, Tyler N. A.
Choi, Hwajung
Miller, Alex K.
Kan, Kristin
Shlafer, Rebecca
Davis, Matthew M.

Year Published

2018

Volume Number

142

Issue Number

2

Edition

July 9, 2018

DOI

10.1542/peds.2017-4314

Reference ID

7155