Non-white children in the U.S. receive universally worse pediatric care compared to their white counterparts, a study by Northwestern University, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, and other institutions reveals. The disparities span neonatal and primary care to emergency medicine and surgery, indicating extensive inequities across pediatric specialties. The study, published in The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health journal, underscores the need for policy changes in multiple sectors, including housing, health insurance, and the criminal justice system, to address these health care inequities rooted in structural racism.
Dr. Monique Jindal, a policy series author from the University of Illinois Chicago School of Medicine, emphasized the deeply entrenched racial disparities that lead to stark inequities in health care for children from minoritized racial and ethnic groups.
The study also highlighted the need for policy changes to end racial segregation of pediatric care and enhance the diversity of the medical workforce. The overall trend indicated more care for white patients, even when not medically justified, revealing a systemic bias in pediatric care. The authors argue that existing policies and practices at local, state, and federal levels in the U.S. perpetuate structural racism, leading to these pediatric health disparities.
See “Pediatric care for non-white children is universally worse across U.S.” by Kristin Samuelson on the Northwestern University website (January 17, 2024)
