Discover how enhancing maternal health literacy and addressing socioeconomic disparities can transform the landscape of pediatric hydrocephalus care, ensuring equitable treatment for every child.
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Improving access to pediatric hydrocephalus care for all: the role of maternal health literacy and socioeconomic status.
Idowu et al., J Neurosurg Pediatr 2024
<!– DOI: 10.3171/2023.11.PEDS23493 //–>
https://doi.org/10.3171/2023.11.PEDS23493
Summary of Findings:
The study investigated the impact of socioeconomic status (SES) and maternal health literacy on access to surgical care for pediatric hydrocephalus patients. Data from 100 children aged ≤5 years and their mothers were analyzed. The study found that:
- Only a small fraction of patients accessed care within 2 weeks across all stages: seeking (34%), reaching (15%), and receiving definitive care (1%).
- The median time to definitive surgical treatment was 14 weeks, with significant differences based on SES (lower SES associated with longer delays).
- Maternal health literacy and SES were significant predictors of delays in seeking and definitive care, while SES and the Evans index were predictors for delays in reaching care.
Importance:
This research highlights the critical role of SES and maternal health literacy in accessing pediatric neurosurgical care. It underscores the need for targeted interventions to address these disparities and improve healthcare outcomes for children with hydrocephalus.
Contribution to Literature:
The study contributes to the understanding of barriers to surgical care in pediatric hydrocephalus, emphasizing the influence of SES and maternal health literacy. It provides evidence for healthcare policy and intervention development aimed at reducing access disparities.