TY - JOUR
T1 - Health and social conditions of children living in disadvantaged neighborhoods in the city of Rome, Italy
AU - Ralli, M.
AU - Cedola, C.
AU - Russo, L.
AU - Urbano, S.
AU - Cimino, M.
AU - Fonte, E.
AU - Morrone, A.
AU - Arcangeli, A.
AU - Ercoli, L.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2020 Verduci Editore s.r.l. All rights reserved.
Copyright:
Copyright 2020 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
PY - 2020
Y1 - 2020
N2 - OBJECTIVE: The number of children living in socio-economically disadvantaged neighborhoods in developed countries is constantly growing, resulting in important implications for children's development, physical and psychological health and increased future disparities. In this study, we explored several key elements of children living in poor neighborhoods, such as demographic characteristics, access to public health assistance and school, and availability of housing and basic hygienic conditions. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study included 711 children aged 0-17 years referring to primary care services in the suburbs of the city of Rome, Italy. RESULTS: Most children were born in Italy, while almost none of their parents were. Nearly 60% of the children did not have access to basic pediatric care, causing possible misdiagnosis and delayed treatment for acute and chronic conditions. A smaller percentage of the children did not have access to basic housing (8%) and hygienic facilities, such as heating, running water, and refrigerator (3.2%), leading to malnutrition, isolation and poor physical and psychological development. CONCLUSIONS: This study confirms a critical condition for children living in disadvantaged neighborhoods, whose vulnerability is further worsened by the limited access to paediatric health assistance and, in some cases, to basic facilities with a severe impact on their physical and psychological development.
AB - OBJECTIVE: The number of children living in socio-economically disadvantaged neighborhoods in developed countries is constantly growing, resulting in important implications for children's development, physical and psychological health and increased future disparities. In this study, we explored several key elements of children living in poor neighborhoods, such as demographic characteristics, access to public health assistance and school, and availability of housing and basic hygienic conditions. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study included 711 children aged 0-17 years referring to primary care services in the suburbs of the city of Rome, Italy. RESULTS: Most children were born in Italy, while almost none of their parents were. Nearly 60% of the children did not have access to basic pediatric care, causing possible misdiagnosis and delayed treatment for acute and chronic conditions. A smaller percentage of the children did not have access to basic housing (8%) and hygienic facilities, such as heating, running water, and refrigerator (3.2%), leading to malnutrition, isolation and poor physical and psychological development. CONCLUSIONS: This study confirms a critical condition for children living in disadvantaged neighborhoods, whose vulnerability is further worsened by the limited access to paediatric health assistance and, in some cases, to basic facilities with a severe impact on their physical and psychological development.
KW - Children
KW - Disadvantaged neighborhoods
KW - Poverty
KW - Primary care paediatric service
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U2 - 10.26355/eurrev_202012_24029
DO - 10.26355/eurrev_202012_24029
M3 - Article
C2 - 33336755
AN - SCOPUS:85098676986
VL - 24
SP - 12350
EP - 12357
JO - European Review for Medical and Pharmacological Sciences
JF - European Review for Medical and Pharmacological Sciences
SN - 1128-3602
IS - 23
ER -