 | The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
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| The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
Susanna N. Visser, MS, Lisa M. Malone, MPH, and Catherine A. Lesesne, MPH. National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road MS-F35, Atlanta, GA 30333, 404-498-3008, svisser@cdc.gov
Introduction: Although conservative estimates suggest that 3-7% of school-aged children are affected by Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), researchers have noted stark racial differences in US prevalence rates. This presentation contrasts the characteristics of children with ADHD, with a particular focus on the characteristics of African-American children. Methods: Data from the 1998 National Health Interview Survey were used to investigate the relationship between ADHD, race, and relevant socio-demographic factors. After limiting the sample to black and white children ages 4-17, 9,399 children were included in the analysis. Cross-tabulation revealed that 6.8% of white children (2,947,107) and 5.2% of black children (452,753) had been diagnosed with ADHD. Among children with ADHD, black children were more likely to reside in families with incomes < 200% of poverty (68.4% vs. 38.5%; X2= 3.95 p < .05) and to live in single parent households (38.2% vs. 17.2%). Although both pharmacological and psychosocial treatments have been shown to be effective, parents of black children with ADHD were significantly more likely to report difficulty affording prescription medications (8.5% vs. 5.8%, X2 = 16.8, p < .001) and mental health counseling services (6.8% vs. 5.2%, X2 = 19.6, p < .001). Discussion: Although the scientific knowledge base surrounding ADHD has increased considerably in the last decades, research on ADHD and the African-American population is limited. The above statistics suggest several issues regarding diagnosis and treatment of ADHD among African-American youth and may serve to inform researchers and clinicians about potential avenues for targeted prevention and intervention strategies.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Child/Adolescent Mental Health,
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.